SOK puts stock in Indian summer past

Indian conditions are not totally foreign for Australia left-arm orthodox spinner Steve O’Keefe.

While the 32-year-old New South Welshman, who has four Tests to his name, is preparing to confront the world’s No.1-ranked Test side away from home for the first time, he will enter the series safe in the knowledge he has performed in India previously.

Playing alongside Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade and Ashton Agar for Australia A, O’Keefe returned 14 wickets from two matches against India A in 2015.

His victims included India maestro Virat Kohli and Karun Nair as Australia claimed a 1-0 victory in the unofficial Test series.

O’Keefe is set to play a key role alongside Australia’s No.1 spinner Nathan Lyon during the four-Test series, starting on February 23, while uncapped Mitchell Swepson, Glenn Maxwell and Agar were other slow-bowling options included in the 16-man touring party.

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Australia has not won a Test match – let alone series – in India since their landmark 2004 triumph, while the home side have not lost a Test match since 2015 and won their most series against England 4-0.

What Australia will take to India is valuable momentum, having won their past four Test matches, including a 3-0 series whitewash against Pakistan.

And while the conditions in the subcontinent will present a whole new challenge for Steve Smith’s No.2-ranked Test team, O’Keefe said Australia had laid a strong platform for success.

“The mentality has to be that we go over there and enjoy our cricket and we’re focusing on each session,” O’Keefe said on Sky Sports Radio.

“If we’re going saying, ‘we’re going to win the series 4-0,’ we’ve probably lost sight of how daunting and how big a task it is.

“There’s a good feeling around the group and in India that can be tested. I think we’re coming from a good foundation. The guys are playing very, very good cricket at the moment.

“We unmistakably know it’s going to be tough and challenging in all departments, but we’re in a good place to play some good cricket.”

O’Keefe said he would draw on his previous experiences in India in a bid to limit their prolific batsmen, with Kohli’s side piling on more than 400 runs five times against England, including massive totals of 7-759dec and 631 in the final two Tests.

His 2015 performances were highlighted by a haul of 6-82 from 31.3 overs in the opening match, which was drawn, before Australia went on to power to a 10-wicket triumph in the second fixture.

“They had KL Rahul, (Cheteshwar) Pujara, Karun Nair and Kohli, so they had four of their top six batters play while we were over there,” O’Keefe said.

“They also had (Pragyan) Ojha, their main left-arm spinner, and (Amit) Mishra.

“I certainly gained a lot of experience from playing those couple of games and I’ll be drawing on that when we’re over there.”

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Opening batsman Matthew Renshaw is also set to undergo a stern examination in India, but O’Keefe said the burly Queenslander would be up to the task.

Renshaw has enjoyed a successful start to his Test career, returning 315 runs at 63 from four matches, including a knock of 184 in the third Test against Pakistan at the SCG.

The 20-year-old earned a Test call-up after just 12 first-class appearances and has so far justified the faith.

Renshaw has also been likened the great Matthew Hayden, who flourished in India during his decorated 103-Test career.

"He certainly looks like Matt in his stance," Queensland coach Phil Jaques said before Renshaw’s Test debut against South Africa in November.

"He's a big, tall man, just like Matty, but probably not as big as Matt. He is a similar kind of frame and similar sort of set-up in his technique.

"But the beauty of the way he plays his cricket is he knows his strengths and plays to his strengths.”

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O’Keefe said Renshaw, who will face competition from the experienced Shaun Marsh to partner David Warner at the top of the order, was capable of mastering Indian conditions.

“When he steps up to that challenge, whatever challenge that is, he tends to rise to it – and he does it his own way,” O’Keefe said.

“There’s no scar tissue with Matt Renshaw, he’s just going to go over and enjoy the experience. He’s just a happy-go-lucky sort of guy, nothing seems to faze him.

“He might even have that level of dumbness that you need to be a good batter.

“For the rest of the batters, I hope and I’m sure they have learnt from previous tours in the subcontintent.

“A lot of these guys it’ll be their second, third or even fourth tour of India or the subcontinent, being Sri Lanka. I’ve seen these guys even working during the SCG Test to improve their games, batting at different ends of the training wickets so they can bat out of the rough.

“The thought processes are there, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. If these guys prepare well, we’re going to give ourselves every chance.

“You need to play solid cricket for five days to beat these guys.”