Australia vs Pakistan:
Nic Maddinson dropped for third Test; Steve O’Keefe, Ashton Agar come in
Australia are likely to field two spinners in the final Test, to be played in Sydney, against Pakistan.
By: Reuters | Melbourne | Updated: December 30, 2016 3:01 pm
Australia vs Pakistan, Aus vs Pa, Australia Test squad, Aus Pak Test squad, Aus Pak Test series, Australia Pakistan Sydney Test, cricket news, sports news Nic Maddinson has been dropped after disappointing start to his Test career.
Australia have included spinners Stephen O’Keefe and Ashton Agar in their squad for the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sydney after taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Melbourne with an innings and 18-run victory on Friday.
Uncapped paceman Chadd Sayers and middle order batsman Nic Maddinson, who failed to perform in his first three Tests, were dropped from the squad.
O’Keefe has been rested from the Sydney Sixers’ Twenty20 match on Saturday and will vie with fellow left-armer Agar to bowl in a twin-spin attack with Nathan Lyon at the Sydney Cricket Ground Test which starts on Tuesday.
O’Keefe teamed with Lyon against West Indies at the SCG in January and both took three wickets in the first innings of the rain-affected draw.
The pair also bowled in tandem in the first Test defeat in Sri Lanka in July before O’Keefe suffered a hamstring tear and was sidelined for the rest of the tour.
While the duo are likely to be reunited in Sydney, coach Darren Lehmann said two-Test Agar also had a genuine claim as an all-rounder.
“He’s made (Sheffield) Shield hundreds and obviously batted well in that Test match at number 11,†Lehmann told reporters, referring to Agar’s impressive 98 on debut against England at Trent Bridge in the 2013 Ashes.
“He’s certainly got the talent to be a batting all-rounder or a spinning all-rounder, either way.â€
Lyon came into the Melbourne Test under pressure after a lean home summer but bowled his best spell on the fifth day against Pakistan, capturing three wickets as the tourists were dismissed for 163.
Steve Smith had declined to back Lyon as an automatic selection for Sydney but the skipper was effusive in his praise for the off-spinner after the win, as was Lehmann, who confirmed him Australia’s “number one†slow bowler.
“I thought he was outstanding,†Lehmann added.
“He bowled consistent line and length, which he was sort of up and down with in the previous few Test matches, and really got through the middle order so I’m pleased for him.â€
Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner
