NSW captain Stephen O’Keefe has strengthened his case to be the bolter on Australia’s four-Test tour of India next month, claiming both wickets on the opening morning of the Sheffield Shield clash with WA, who reached 2-85 at lunch at Blacktown.
Australia has a dearth of viable spin options to take to the spin-friendly wickets in India, with first-choice option Nathan Lyon failing to cement his spot in the team despite a lack of pressure being applied by Shield spinners.
But O’Keefe, also a capable batsman, attempted to change that on Thursday with a crafty spell before lunch to put their Shield clash with the last-placed Warriors on even terms.
The left-arm orthodox, who with 11 Shield wickets is the competition’s leading spinner, dismissed both WA openers Liam Davis (39) and Marcus Harris (25).
Champion Australian batsman Michael Hussey, playing his first Shield match since retiring from international cricket after the Sydney Test early this month, is unbeaten on four at lunch with Marcus North not out eight.
O’Keefe had sent the Warriors in on a deck that looked to offer the seamers plenty early on, but appeared a curious decision as the openers put on a 62-run partnership for the opening wicket.
But the 28-year-old, who finished the session with figures of 2-26, had Harris top-edging to Doug Bollinger at mid-off and Davis trapped lbw soon after.
Blues allrounder Moises Henriques missed the first session while travelling back from Hobart following his impressive three-wicket haul in Australia’s 32-run victory over Sri Lanka on Wednesday, but is expected to take the field after lunch.