O'Keefe content as Lyon's understudy

Stephen O'Keefe might have landed the headline bowling figures on day one of Australia's sole warm-up match before their three-Test series begins in Sri Lanka, but he is under no illusion that he remains his country's second-choice spinner.

O'Keefe captured 5-43 from 12.2 overs of left-arm finger spin as a Sri Lanka Board XI were bowled out for 229 on day one of the three-day tour match at Colombo's P Sara Stadium, and in doing so shrank the odds of Australia employing a dual spin attack in next week's opening Test at Kandy.

But rather than talk up his chances of adding a third Test appearance to the debut match he played in Dubai two years ago and the rain-ruined home Test he was part of at the SCG last January, the 31-year-old was effusive about the form of Australia's number one spinner Nathan Lyon.

Even though Lyon, who is poised to become the only Australian finger spinner in almost 140 years of Test cricket to reach 200 Test wickets, went unrewarded in his 13 overs in Colombo (0-72) having been laid low by illness over the weekend.

Quick Single: Sharp warnings lurk in pleasing day

"I spoke to Nathan (during the day) and the ball's coming out beautifully, it has been for the last few days," O'Keefe said at day's end when asked how he assessed the form of his senior (in terms of Tests and wickets) spin partner.

"He's been battling a little bit of sickness which hasn't helped him but that certainly hasn't been a dampener on the way that he's bowling.

"He's bowling beautifully, he's got that lovely shape on it, he's got plenty of revs as he does and he spins it which is a bonus.

"I might have to ask him how he does that.

Image Id: ~/media/61CA097683A041298C7AC63280AE6BDB Image Caption: Lyon bowled without luck on day one // Getty

"He's a bit of a role model of mine and a bit of a mentor when it comes to spin bowling.

"I've always looked up to him in his career and how he's gone about his business.

"He's verging on a couple of hundred Test wickets now (currently 195) so there's a truck load of experience and knowledge that I try to get out of him.

"And when the big occasions come up he's always stood up to the challenge.

"He's in a good place and I feel extremely privileged to bowl with him at the other end."

As O'Keefe points out, the prevailing conditions for the opening day of the practice match – a green-tinged pitch, slow if barely perceptible turn, batsmen hell-bent on dictating terms to the spinners – meant that while it was scarcely dream conditions for slow bowlers someone was going to cash in.

Fate dictated it was the left-armer, who was belted for six against the flow of the game early in his opening spell and had several chances missed from his bowling (including one by his own hands) before a spot of wizardry from his captain Steve Smith at slip set him on track for a five-wicket haul.

Asela Gunaratne, the classy middle-order batter who made his T20 International debut for Sri Lanka against India earlier this year and top-scored for the Board XI with 58, shaped early to play a paddle sweep against O'Keefe who was operating around the wicket.

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Seeing what the right-handed batsman had in mind, Smith moved quickly to his left and was in place at leg slip to accept the catch when the ball lobbed past the shoulder of non-plussed wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

A similar move to the controversial catch Smith completed in a one-day international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi two years ago.

It was an example of the changed thinking the Australians are looking to bring to the game in subcontinental conditions, a strategy that is benefitting from the input of Sri Lanka's most successful bowler – and the greatest wicket taker the Test and ODI games have seen – Muthiah Muralidaran.

Muralidaran is working with the Australian team up until the opening Test begins in his former home city of Kandy on July 26, with ex-India ODI representative Sridharan Sriram also providing insights on how best to adapt to the subcontinental conditions in which Australian teams have historically struggled.

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"The beauty of Murali (is) he's always got something to say to you," O'Keefe revealed after the opening day that saw Australia 1-127 in reply to the Sri Lanka Board XI's first innings.

"He's always got feedback, he'll come up after each session and spell, and give you hints whether it be about the field or how they (opposition batters) might play.

"So he's been a massive help along with Sri (Sriram) and you can't underestimate what it's like having a guy like that who's played a majority of his career in these (subcontinent) conditions and also some pointers on how to go about business.

"We're used to bowling with the Kookaburra (brand ball) but I think the game changes as the ball goes from hard to soft.

Quick Single: Lankans bank on home conditions for edge

"And the field settings are a little bit different, along with the fact these guys (Sri Lankans) will probably sweep a bit more and play shots that we don't typically see in Australia.

"So you just have to adjust and think on your feet and fortunately we've got the likes of Steve Smith, one of the greatest cricket brains in the country if not the world and he's always at the other end offering advice on whether he thinks you're too slow or too fast, or what line and what field.

"So it's a good supportive network and you rely in that when you're out in the middle."