O'Keefe Test axing 'unjust': Jones

Cricket NSW chief executive Andrew Jones has labelled Ashton Agar's selection over Steve O'Keefe in Australia's Test squad to tour Bangladesh as "unjust" and "not a good cricket decision".

Despite spinning Australia to victory with a 12-wicket bag in their Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener against India in Pune just months ago, O'Keefe was overlooked when the National Selection Panel yesterday announced a 13-strong group to travel to Bangladesh.

Quick Single: Australia name squad for Bangladesh Test series

National selectors instead opted for the younger Agar, a fellow left-arm tweaker and free-wheeling batsman, as the second specialist spinner in the squad for the two-Test series in August-September.

"Whilst Steve O'Keefe bowled well in Pune, he did not maintain this level in the remaining matches of the series and we believe the timing is right for Ashton to enter the set-up and test his all-rounder ability," chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns explained.

But Jones took aim the selection panel, suggesting O'Keefe, Australia's joint-leading wicket taker against India with 19 scalps at 23.26, remains the country's leading left-arm spinner.

"It’s unfair to be honest. I think it’s just unjust, " Jones told News Ltd.

"I think ‘SOK’ should be in the side. He was the leading wicket-taker in India and had the best figures by any spinner visiting India ever.

"Clearly he’s the best left-arm spinner in Australia. I think the facts speak for themselves. 

"Agar will be a good cricketer … but this is not a good cricket decision."

The 32-year-old O'Keefe has an impeccable record at domestic level, having collected 169 wickets at 24.30 in a Sheffield Shield career spanning more than a decade with the Blues.

Agar, who shot to fame during the 2013 Ashes after smashing 98 from No.11 on Test debut, has 96 wickets at just under 40 in 35 Shield matches for Western Australia. The 23-year-old also has two first-class centuries to his name.

In April, O'Keefe was slapped with a $20,000 fine from Cricket Australia and suspended from next summer's Matador BBQs One-Day Cup by Cricket NSW for making "highly inappropriate comments" in an alcohol-fuelled incident following an end-of-season awards function.

The selection panel didn't refer to O'Keefe's indiscretion in announcing the squad for Bangladesh, and Jones insisted the punishment should not have had any bearing on his availability for the tour.

"If we thought it was a career-ending offence we would have torn up his contract. And we didn’t," Jones continued.

"We levied a punishment which we thought appropriate and proportionate. Obviously Cricket Australia agreed with that.

"The behaviour issue was an issue but it’s been dealt with. There’s no double jeopardy.

"The feedback is it’s a cricket decision. That needs to be judged on that basis and I just think the numbers tell the story.

"If I were him I wouldn’t be happy."

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor admitted O'Keefe's axing, while not necessarily career-ending, puts doubt over his international future.

"I wouldn’t say O’Keefe’s career is over but it’s certainly not a good sign, " Taylor told Wide World of Sports.

"But you never know what’s around the corner, obviously he had one very good Test in India but he didn’t do a lot in the other matches and the selectors seem very keen on getting Agar into the team.

"O’Keefe’s record is a lot better than Agar's but remember O’Keefe has the benefit of experience, and he also gets to bowl at the SCG a bit more, which can help the left-arm spinner if the wicket is holding up a bit."