O'Keefe forced from field with injury

Australia spinner Steve O'Keefe has been forced from the field during the afternoon session on day three of the first Test at Pallekele Stadium.

O'Keefe pulled up in his follow-through after the second ball of the 49th over in Sri Lanka's second innings – his 17th of the day – and appeared to grab his right leg immediately after the delivery.

Cricket Australia later confirmed the spinner had a "right hamstring issue" and was being assessed by the Bupa Support Staff.

Adam Voges completed the over with four balls of left-arm orthodox spin.

O'Keefe showed promise in the first innings with figures of 2-32 from 10.2 overs and again caused issues on the morning of day three, picking up the wicket of opening batsman Kaushal Silva.

The left-arm tweaker bowled 14 overs before the lunch break, before returning for a brief two-over spell straight after the main interval.

It was the second ball of O'Keefe's third spell that forced him from the field.

The severity of the injury is unclear at this stage.

Speaking with cricket.com.au in May, O'Keefe revealed his increased focus on fitness after a broken right index finger that ended his Sheffield Shield campaign in the latter half of last season.

"I'm feeling as fit as I was four or five years ago," O'Keefe said at the time.

"When I was in my early twenties I thought it was plain sailing because I didn't get too many injuries, but now more so than ever it's important to get my body right.

"So I've used this time to train physically and work a lot on my cricket."

Pacemen Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-Nile are the specialist bowlers on tour but not in the side for the first Test, while allrounder Moises Henriques is also with the squad in Kandy.