Australia May Drop Steve O’Keefe, Bird in Contention For 4th Test

12 wickets in Pune but nothing consequential since.

After his 12 wickets in Pune, O’Keefe has managed to pick just 6 wickets in two tests. (Photo: BCCI)

Australia's Pune Test hero Steve O'Keefe in all likelihood will be dropped from the playing XI at the expense of pacer Jackson Bird for the fourth Test match against India, starting Saturday.

The Dharamsala track has traditionally been seamer-friendly which may force Steve Smith to opt for a third seamer in Bird, who is known to extract good bounce off the pitch. For O'Keefe, the man who got 12 wickets on an under-prepared Pune track, the Bangalore and Pune matches were not as good as the series-opener.

(Read: “Trend Says Pacers Will Get More Wickets,” Says Dharamsala Curator)

Steve O’Keefe picked 12 wickets in the opening test in Pune. (Photo: BCCI)

In Ranchi, on a track which was less conducive for spinners, O'Keefe bowled 77 overs without much success. Ranchi Test was an indicator that O'Keefe needs help from the track to trouble the batsman. Nathan Lyon didn't bowl at the nets on Friday but with his ability to get turn and bounce from the track, he is expected to retain his place as former fast bowler Mitchell Johnson had indicated.

It’s a no brainer that Australia will play an extra seamer. Bird bowled at length to David Warner during the optional net session. He looked sharp, got the ball to rear up as Warner looked in some discomfort.

Warner has not been in his element during the series as he has frittered away some of the starts that he got in first three Test matches.

However the track in Dharamsala is exactly to his liking. As HPCA curator Sunil Chauhan pointed out that those, who play shots square off the wicket, will like the wicket.

Warner with fetish for pull shots may find "just what the doctor has ordered."