Australia turn to another spin option post Warne in squad for UAE trip

Left-armer O’Keefe, 29, is one of three spinners included for a tour expected to be played on slow pitches, and could be the 14th spinner to feature in Tests for Australia since the retirement of Shane Warne in 2007.

SYDNEY // Spinner Steve O’Keefe and allrounder Mitchell Marsh could make their Test debuts after being named today in Australia’s squad for next month’s series against Pakistan in the UAE.

Left-armer O’Keefe, 29, was one of three spinners included for a tour expected to be played on slow pitches, and could be the 14th spinner to feature in Tests for Australia since the retirement of Shane Warne in 2007.

Among other notable selections were allrounder Glenn Maxwell and the return of batsman Phil Hughes.

O’Keefe has been long overlooked by Test selectors despite success at domestic first-class level and topped the Sheffield Shield’s wicket tally last season with 41 at 20.43.

“We have picked Steve O’Keefe as the extra spinner for the Test tour,” chief selector Rod Marsh said.

“We are unsure what pitch conditions we will encounter in the UAE but we need to be prepared to play two spinners.”

Incumbent off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who has taken 112 wickets in 33 Tests at 32.99, is expected to be the front-line spinner during the tour with Maxwell offering support.

Marsh, 22, younger brother of Test batsman Shaun Marsh, gets his chance following an explosive unbeaten 86 off 69 balls with seven sixes in a one-dayer against South Africa in Harare this month.

“Mitch Marsh is a player of immense talent and is a bright prospect for the future of Australian cricket,” Rod Marsh said.

“His form with Australia A has been fantastic and he carried that through to the recent Zimbabwe tour. If he gets his opportunity, we know he will make the most of it.”

Hughes will vie with incumbent Alex Doolan for the No 3 spot in the Test batting order.

He will travel to the UAE earlier than his team-mates to work on his batting against spin with coaching consultant and Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan.

“Phil has been in excellent form and has been rewarded with a place in the Test squad,” Marsh said. “His attitude to his game has been first rate and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity.”

Selectors named only three fast-bowlers – Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle – in the Test squad for the anticipated spin-friendly pitches.

Captain Michael Clarke (hamstring) and allrounder Shane Watson (ankle ligaments) were also included ahead of fitness tests, having been ruled out of the recent one-day tour of Zimbabwe.

As well as two Tests, Australia will play three one-dayers and a Twenty20 match against Pakistan in October and early November.

Aaron Finch, who tops the Twenty20 international batting rankings, was named as the new Twenty20 captain after George Bailey stood down to focus on the one-day World Cup.

The 27-year-old has racked up an average of 41.25 in 18 Twenty20 internationals, including a stunning 156 off 63 balls against England last year.

“Having the honour to captain your country in any form of the game is something that all young cricketers dream about,” Finch said.

“It came as a big surprise but it was a very nice phone call to receive from Rod Marsh.”

Young fast bowler Pat Cummins was also included in the T20 squad, having last played for Australia in October 2012 before suffering a back injury.

In the one-day squad, paceman Sean Abbott was the big surprise after impressing at state level with New South Wales.

Pakistan have been forced to play their home series at neutral venues, such as the UAE, since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

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