Pune hero O'keefe to make way for Bird in fourth Test at Dharmsala

Photo: AP

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

The Dharamsala curator Sunil CHauhan has already confirmed about that the Dharmsala track will be a bouncy one. 

“This will be a bouncy wicket and preferred by those who play the cut and pull shot well, “ said Chauhan.  

Bird, who is considered to be good a exponent of bounce and seam can prove to be valuable addition in the Australian bowling unit which is bearing a tired look after spending two entire days fielding in Ranchi.

For O'Keefe, the man who got 12 wickets on an under-prepared Pune track, the Bangalore and Ranchi matches were not as good as the series-opener.

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 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.

India, in all likelihood will play an extra seamer. Mohammed Shami has been summoned to Ranchi to bolster the seam bowling department, which already has Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.