With the Sri Lanka Test tour looming in January, Cricket Australia (CA) faces a dilemma regarding the preparation of its spin candidates. Former Test spinner Steve O’Keefe believes that pulling spin bowlers out of the Big Bash League (BBL) early is crucial for their success on the subcontinent.
O’Keefe cites his own experience in India in 2017, where he opted out of the BBL to focus on red-ball preparation. This decision paid dividends, as he bagged 12 wickets in the first Test in Pune. He argues that the BBL’s focus on cross-seam bowling and yorkers is not ideal for spinners preparing for the challenges of subcontinent pitches.
CA had initially planned for a clear window for Test players to feature in the BBL between the India series and the Sri Lanka tour. However, concerns have emerged about the workload and physical preparation of Test players, especially given the grueling nature of the India series.
The selectors are particularly keen on finding a left-arm orthodox spinner for the Sri Lanka tour, as such bowlers have been highly successful in subcontinent conditions. However, there are currently few domestic players who specialize in this skill.
O’Keefe recommends that CA pull spin candidates out of the BBL as early as possible, allowing them to focus on red-ball bowling and adjust to the specific challenges of subcontinent pitches. He believes that a month of preparation is ideal, with a couple of weeks spent bowling consistently in the subcontinent.
The selectors have not yet picked a specialist left-arm orthodox spinner for the Australia A matches against India A, but Cooper Connolly will play as an allrounder. CA’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, has emphasized the importance of finding players with this skill set for future subcontinent tours.
