October 29, 2024

O’Keefe Advises Australia to Prioritize Red-Ball Preparation for Sri Lanka-Bound Spinners – Big Bash League

The upcoming two matches, scheduled to commence in late January, hold immense significance as they are poised to act as a potential decider for the coveted World Test Championship final. With multiple teams vying for the top spots, these matches will prove crucial in determining which nations advance to the final stage of the championship.

As the race to the World Test Championship final intensifies, every run, wicket, and point will be vital in shaping the tournament’s outcome. The performances of key players and strategic decisions made by captains will play a pivotal role in the success of their respective teams. The stakes are high, and fans can expect thrilling competition as the world’s best Test cricket teams battle for a chance to lift the prestigious trophy.

With Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli gearing up to showcase their skills in the upcoming Australia A matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne, former Test spinner Steve O’Keefe is emphasizing the need for Cricket Australia to prioritize red-ball preparation for these spinners. In light of the potential impact that the Sri Lanka Test tour in January could have on Australia’s World Test Championship final hopes, O’Keefe urges the board to allow the spin candidates to focus on honing their skills for the longer format by withdrawing them from the Big Bash League as early as possible.

While the current focus is primarily on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the competition for a top-order batting position, the Australian selectors are also considering the importance of the Sri Lanka series. The two-Test series could be a turning point in their campaign, especially following India’s recent loss to New Zealand at home.

Murphy and Rocchiccioli will each have a chance to secure their place in the Sri Lanka tour during the Australia A matches against India A. When not featuring in these games, the pair will join the ODI squad to work closely with bowling coach and former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori, further sharpening their skills in preparation for the crucial Test series. As the window for Test players’ involvement in the Big Bash League potentially narrows, these spinners must receive the necessary support and specialized training to perform at their best in the challenging subcontinental conditions.

As Australia gears up for the highly anticipated Sri Lanka Test tour, there are indications that the series could commence earlier than initially expected. While it was previously believed that the first Test would begin on January 29, recent developments suggest that the match could start as early as January 26. The exact dates are still being negotiated between the cricket boards of both nations, with the possibility of a pre-series camp in the UAE or Oman to provide the Australian squad with a 10-day preparation period for overseas Test tours. Should the first Test commence on January 26, it could mean that the touring Australian players would need to be withdrawn from the Big Bash League by January 15.

This development could have implications for players such as Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann, who are currently involved with the Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat, respectively, in the BBL. Corey Rocchiccioli, although not currently contracted to a BBL team, could also be affected if he is picked up by a franchise, having previously played for the Melbourne Stars.

Regardless of the final tour dates and player selections, former Test spinner Steve O’Keefe believes early red-ball preparation is crucial to the team’s success in Sri Lanka. Drawing from his experience during the 2017 tour of India, O’Keefe cited the significance of having an extended red-ball lead-in. He reaped significant rewards by opting out of the BBL and dedicating six consecutive weeks to bowling with a red ball before the first Test in Pune, securing an impressive 12 for 70 in the match. This example underscores the importance of specialized training and focused preparation for spinners to excel in challenging Test series.

In light of this, O’Keefe’s advice to Cricket Australia to withdraw potential spin candidates from the BBL as early as possible highlights the need to prioritize the red-ball format for those vying for a spot in the Sri Lanka tour. By providing these players ample time to hone their skills and adapt to the demands of Test cricket, Australia can maximize their chances of success in the World Test Championship and secure a coveted spot in the final.

“I pulled out of the last six games of the Big Bash that season because I just said, no, this is not the way that I’m going to be bowling over there,” O’Keefe told ESPNcricinfo. “And I copped a bit of criticism. I remember a couple of coaches saying you’ll get slogged in India, but you may as well practice in the Big Bash.

“I deliberately took that time off, played grade cricket, played a Second XI game just to get used to bowling with the red ball. I think if we’re really going to be serious about the young spinners going over there, whoever is going to accompany Nathan [Lyon], is the Big Bash the best preparation?

“I’d be encouraging the selectors to let these spinners go earlier and then promoting those spinners to practice with a red ball between Big Bash games.

“It’s two completely different ways of bowling. In essence, sometimes in Big Bash cricket, you’re bowling your six worst deliveries to a batter. Then, you’ll be asked seven to ten days later to land it on a tea towel for 40 overs straight.

“It’s a change for batters as well. The way that you mitigate that is muscle memory, and you need to practice it.”

The Big Bash League (BBL) had initially planned a clear window for Australia’s Test players to participate between the conclusion of the five-Test India series on January 7 and the start of the Sri Lanka series. However, there have been growing concerns within Cricket Australia’s high-performance unit regarding the involvement of Test players in the BBL due to their expected workload following the grueling India series. Furthermore, the physical and technical preparation required for the spin-friendly pitches in Galle, Sri Lanka, has been discussed.

Australia’s past experiences highlight spinners’ challenges when preparing for subcontinent tours while participating in the BBL. With only 19 days, including camps in Sydney and Bengaluru, to prepare for the Test series in India, Agar struggled to find consistency and was eventually sent home. The last-minute inclusion of Matt Kuhnemann, who had bowled 44 overs in a Sheffield Shield match after the BBL, further emphasizes the need for adequate red-ball preparation for spinners in such demanding conditions.

“It’s tough because you’re coming out of Big Bash, which is bowling cross-seam, cut shots and yorkers, and leg stump [line] into I need to land the ball on a similar spot consistently and allow the wicket to do the work for me,” O’Keefe said.

“In Australia, we’re looking for overspin because it’s a different game. Over there, you need to be able to bowl that square spinner over there, which, if it doesn’t spin, hits a shiny side, slides on, and you get an LBW. But that ball can hit the same spot and then spin past the outside edge of a right-hand batter [for a left-arm orthodox]. Is that easy to do? I think it takes a bit of practice. 

But knowing what Matt bowls and watching him bowl, I think he’s already got it in his armory. I believe Todd Murphy’s got it in his armory.

“I’ve watched Corey bowl. I think he’s got it as well. But you need to go and bowl a lot of it over there. So, hopefully, these guys will have a month to prepare. Still, I reckon you need a couple of weeks of going over and consistently bowling it. In Australia, you might bowl it once every two overs; over there, you’ve got be bowling it 10 times out of 12 balls.”

The importance of a left-arm orthodox spinner in subcontinent conditions has been demonstrated by the recent success of bowlers such as Mitchell Santner against India and Prabath Jayasuriya against both New Zealand and Australia. Despite this, Australia has not selected a specialist left-arm orthodox spinner for the India A matches. Instead, Cooper Connolly will play as an all-rounder.

During Australia’s previous tour of Sri Lanka in 2022, the selectors opted for a combination of Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson as spinners, with support from part-timers Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. George Bailey, the chair of selectors, recently spoke about the panel’s desire to find and develop more left-arm finger spin options for future subcontinent tours, acknowledging the value they can bring to the team in such conditions.

“Happy to publicly throw it out there that it’s an incredible skill set in the subcontinent,” he said. “We’ve seen that for many years. Realistically, there are not a vast number of domestic cricket players doing it at the moment. It’s something that we’re looking to continue to expose. It’s undoubtedly one of the reasons why we’re excited about Cooper Connolly and his journey.

“It’s still a work in progress with his left-arm spin. But [beyond] Matt Kuhnemann and Ash Agar, some players can do it. We know we will have plenty of subcontinent tours and Tests where that skill set would be highly desirable. So [we] encourage anyone with that up their sleeve to work hard at it.”

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