Test squad spot on line for Shield spinners

The battle between spinners Stephen O'Keefe and Ashton Agar will be a fascinating sub-plot in this week's top of the table Bupa Sheffield Shield clash between NSW and WA.

The NSW Blues sit on top of the ladder, one point ahead of the Alcohol.Think Again Warriors, going into their four-day clash in Newcastle, starting on Wednesday.

While the race for a top two finish is incentive enough for O'Keefe and Agar, there is also the lure of a possible recall to Australia's Test side to consider.

The left-armers are two of the leading contenders to be handed the support spin role to incumbent Test tweaker and O'Keefe's NSW teammate Nathan Lyon for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England.

O'Keefe was handed his Test debut in October's series against Pakistan in the UAE, while Agar – who played two Tests during the 2013 Ashes series – was called into an extended Australian squad for the fourth Commonwealth Bank Test against India in January.

The pair are coming off standout performances in the Shield last week; O'Keefe took 8-86 in NSW's win over Victoria in Wagga Wagga, while Agar was named man of the match after claiming a maiden 10-wicket haul and blasting a quickfire 64 in WA's draw with South Australia.

Agar grabs a bag of 10

With leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed also in contention, the left-armers will be hoping for another good performance this week to add weight to their push for a recall.

"I've got to be taking wickets, I've got to be winning games of cricket and you'd like to think given I did that last year and (the National Selection Panel) gave me an opportunity, if I can reproduce that then I'd like to think I'm putting my hand up for a position to be second to Nathan," O'Keefe said.

"That's as simple as it gets in my mind.

"If you're in a winning team and helping to contribute then I think selectors will look at that more favourably."

The role for a second slow bowler in the Ashes could be limited, with no guarantee a second spinner would be selected at all; Agar was a late addition to Australia's squad for the 2013 series after Lyon was named as the lone spinner in the initial squad.

But spin is expected to be a major factor in the two-Test series against the Windies in June.

Spinners played an important role in Australia's 2-0 series there in 2012, particularly in the third Test in Dominica, where the turning ball accounted for 26 of the 40 wickets to fall.

Image Id: ~/media/5CA0AED2D78A45F2BECC1E3CBFE5249A

Australia pose with the trophy after winning the series against the West Indies in 2012 // AFP

The Aussies are likely to face similar conditions when they return to Windsor Park in Roseau for the first Test starting on June 5; spinners took 21 of 28 wickets in the most recent Test at the ground between the Windies and Zimbabwe just under two years ago.

While the surface for the second Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica is expected to be more pace friendly, the struggles of Australia's batsmen against spin – as demonstrated by their 2-0 loss to Pakistan in the UAE late last year – has selectors bracing for another series on turning pitches.

Agar said he was shocked to be called into the Test squad in January, but feels his brief taste of Test cricket during the 2013 Ashes has him prepared for a recall.

"It was fantastic and absolutely helped getting a taste of what Test cricket is. I am itching to get back there," the 21-year-old said.

"So much can happen between now and then. I have learnt a lot can happen in a short period of time."

While recent selections indicate O'Keefe and Agar are at the front of the selectors' minds, the performance of Ahmed this season means he's also well in the mix to be called into the Test set-up for the first time.

The Pakistan-born Victorian spinner has taken 25 wickets at 32 from seven Shield matches this season, more than O'Keefe (20 wickets at 19 from six matches) and Agar (17 at 31 from five matches).

Young leg-spinners Adam Zampa (14 wickets at 60) and Cameron Boyce (13 wickets at 31) are the other leading spinners this Shield season.

Ahmed, who turned 33 this month, had been spoken about as a possible replacement for Lyon ahead of the Test series against India after the off-spinner took three wickets in two Tests in the UAE.

Lyon responded in fine style, taking a match-winning 12 wickets in the first Test in Adelaide and finishing the series as the leading wicket-taker to remove any doubt of his status as Australia's leading spinner.

Nathan Lyon's terrific 12 in Adelaide

Ahmed admits the speculation surrounding a possible Test call-up affected his performance.

"I felt a lot of pressure because people were telling me I was a chance to play the first Test if I bowled well against New South Wales (in November)," Ahmed said in January.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself and I didn't perform well as a result, so after that I tried to forget about playing for Australia and concentrate on playing for Victoria.

"My national ambitions are always there, but I'm trying not to think too far ahead.

"I can't control selection, but if I'm performing well for Victoria then I think an opportunity will definitely come."

That chance for Ahmed could come in the Caribbean, where Lyon and captain Michael Clarke both picked up five-wicket hauls three years ago.

David Warner also took three wickets with his leg-spin, while Michael Beer picked up two wickets and even opened the bowling in the second Test.