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O'Keefe recalled to replace Hazlewood

Spinner added to Test squad in Bangladesh, Kane Richardson for ODIs in India as Josh Hazlewood returns home

Australia have dropped a selection bombshell by recalling Stephen O'Keefe from the international cricketing wilderness to replace injured fast bowler Josh Hazlewood on their Qantas Tour of Bangladesh.

Hazlewood suffered a side strain on the third morning of the first Test against Bangladesh, leaving the field seven balls into his first spell of the day. It was later confirmed the NSW quick would fly home at the conclusion of the match but he's not in any doubt for the Magellan Ashes this summer.

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O'Keefe's recall is a major surprise and paves the way for a potential return to the Test side for the second Test in Chittagong, which gets underway on Monday.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said the panel were confident of going into the Test with Pat Cummins and back-up quick Jackson Bird as the only specialist seamers in the 14-man squad.

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"With Jackson Bird in the squad we are comfortable with our fast-bowling options for the second Test and have elected to add an additional spinner given the conditions we are likely to face in Chittagong," Hohns said in a statement.

South Australia fast bowler Kane Richardson, meanwhile, has been named as Hazlewood's replacement for next month's five-match one-day international series in India.

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O'Keefe was contentiously left out of the original touring party for the Bangladesh series, despite spinning Australia to victory in the first Test of their tour of India earlier this year and finishing the Border-Gavaskar series as the visitors' joint-leading wicket taker with 19 wickets.

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Australia captain Steve Smith told cricket.com.au earlier this month that Ashton Agar's selection over O'Keefe had been made with one eye to the next Test tour of India, likely to be in 2021.

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Agar went some way to justifying that call in the first Test in Dhaka, picking up five wickets for the match and stroking a vital 41 not out in Australia's first innings.

In April, O'Keefe was slapped with a $20,000 fine from Cricket Australia and suspended from this summer's domestic one-day cup by Cricket NSW for making "highly inappropriate comments" in an alcohol-fuelled incident following an end-of-season awards function. Selectors have indicated the incident didn't play a role in O'Keefe's original non-selection for Bangladesh.

It would be highly unusual for Australia to go into the second Test with only one fast bowler, meaning Bird is in pole position partner speedster Cummins in Chittagong.

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But Agar's capability with the willow could open up further possibilities for the Test XI; if Agar were to be pushed up to a spot in the order to No.7, O'Keefe could slot in at the expense of a batsman.

Much could rest on how the fourth – and likely final, unless monsoonal rain intervenes – day of the first Test in Dhaka pans out. Should Australia reel in the 156 more runs they need to win on Wednesday, selectors may be less inclined to alter (aside from the forced change created by Hazlewood's injury) a victorious side.

Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and batting allrounder Hilton Cartwright are the other two members of the squad not playing in Dhaka.

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Speaking after play on Tuesday, Cummins said replacing the consistent Hazlewood, whose run of 22 consecutive Tests will come to an end, will be difficult.

"He’s a big member of the group," the 24-year-old said.

"I am going to miss having dinner with him every night, but we have got Jackson Bird waiting in the wings which is great.

"He’s been bowling beautifully out the back (in the Mirpur practice nets) here.

"(Bird is) someone who has been around the team a long time and been bowling really well, had some great performances for Australia in the past as well.

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"It’s not good to miss Joshy, but we’re lucky we have such a strong squad over here."

Bupa Support Team physiotherapist David Beakley said Hazlewood’s injury would require "several weeks of rehabilitation" but he's tipped to be free to play this summer.

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Richardson, meanwhile, joins a pace battery for the ODI tour of India already featuring Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile as well as allrounders James Faulkner and Marcus Stoinis.

The 26-year-old, who has 15 international limited-overs matches under his belt and last played in Austraila's one-day team in New Zealand last year, had already been named in the T20 squad for India.

A product of the Northern Territory's youth system, the right-armer played in Australia's three-day intra-squad in Darwin earlier this month in preparation for the Bangladesh tour.

Australia in Bangladesh 2017

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade.

Bangladesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mominul Haque.


27-31 August First Test, Dhaka


4-8 September Second Test, Chittagong