O'Keefe eager for encore in subcontinent

After being recalled to the Australia squad in Bangladesh, Steve O'Keefe is keen to prove his worth in subcontinental conditions to Steven Smith, the captain, and the national selectors, and hopes to be in the fray when the side next tours India, most likely in 2021.

"I do like to remind Steve that if I'm still playing at 36, I might still be a chance," the 32-year-old left-arm spinner told reporters on Friday (September 1) ahead of the second and final Test in Chittagong on September 4. Australia lost the first Test in Dhaka by 20 runs to concede a 1-0 lead in the series.

O'Keefe was drafted into the squad after Josh Hazlewood, the seamer, was ruled out with injury on Tuesday.

Despite returning from the previous tour of India as the joint leading wicket-taker for Australia with 19 wickets at 23.26, he was left out of the squad for Bangladesh with selectors citing the need to groom young blood with an eye on the next India tour. Agar, the left-arm spinner, and Swepson, the legspinner, were instead the first-choice options to partner Nathan Lyon, the offspinner.

O'Keefe revealed that a chat with Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, and later Smith about his omission mitigated his disappointment. "(Being dropped is) hard to hear at first but you accept that. I want to see a thriving team in four years' time that goes to India. (Smith) was one was one of the first people after 'Cracker' (Hohns) to tell me when they went down a different path with the team as to why they were doing it. I respect him for that."

O'Keefe was keeping tabs of his fellow spinners' progress in the first Test, even offering a word of encouragement to Agar, 23, who was playing just his third Test. "I like seeing the Australian cricket team do well," explained O'Keefe. "After day two, I even sent Ashton a message saying, 'you look right at home, mate. The ball looks like it's coming home beautifully and you're obviously more than capable'."

O'Keefe conceded his performance in India, which began promisingly with 6 for 35 in each innings of the Pune Test in February to set up a win, dipped as the series wore on, and it reflected in the final scoreline too, the series going 2-1 to the home side.

"I did drop off, but it's a bit hard to maintain a 6 for 35 in each innings, which I made clear to 'Cracker'," joked O'Keefe. "As a player, we went over there to win that series, and when you don't win, then you accept the fact you leave the door open for someone else to come in and take your spot."

Later in April, O'Keefe was fined and suspended by New South Wales for "highly inappropriate comments" at a function, his second alcohol-fuelled transgression. He thought that his career was all but over after that, and hoped to make the most of the lifeline handed to him now.

"To represent your country, it's been a dream of mine since I was a kid," he said. "Even being around here and being around the buzz, it still gives you goose bumps. Every single time. I know that these moments for me probably will come fleetingly, so I'm going to enjoy it, and I'm excited to be back with the guys. I want to make a difference whether it be on the field or off the field with these guys in this group now."