Spin coach Sriram lauds O'Keefe's performance in Pune Test

Australia's spin bowling coach Sridharan Sriram on Monday revealed how left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O'Keefe changed his approach during lunch break on the second day of the first cricket Test against India at Pune.

Playing his first Test in the sub-continent, O'Keefe turned out to be the dark horse, taking six wickets in each innings to break the backbone of the Indian batting.

Chasing a mammoth 441, the hosts once again succumbed to the visiting spin duo of O'Keefe and Nathan Lyon to be dismissed for a paltry 107 in their second essay.

The visitors have now taken a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series.

"During the break I knew he (O'Keefe) was a little disturbed. He said I think I need to have a bowl with you in the centre," Sriram told mediapersons here.

"He then said that he was little nervous to start because he was in his comfort zone and trying to bowl as he would do in Australia. But, I said what do you think you need on this wicket?' and he said 'I need to go a little bit rounder and quicker and I just said to him to go for it," he added.

O'Keefe's figures are the second best by a visiting bowler in India, behind Ian Botham's 13/108 in Bombay 37 years ago. It was the fifth-cheapest 12-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Sriram also explained the importance of adapting oneself according to the given situation.

"In India there is no one-stop solution, so you have just got to adapt on the go. You have got to see what works for you on that day. And I think O'Keefe was well prepared. He was prepared to experiment," he said.

--IANS

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