Cricketing Thoughts - Stephen O'Keefe

What About Sock?

Stephen Norman John O’Keefe or Sock as he is known to his mates in the NSW team is an exciting young prospect that will be a prominent figure of Australian cricket in the next few years. As Australia’s dreadful spinner woes continue with the recent surprise pick of Michael Beer, possibly to play at the Boxing Day Test, O’Keefe could be just the player needed to thread Australia back together and return it to its world beating status. When most people think of a slow bowling all-rounder from NSW, thoughts immediately turn to O’Keefe’s namesake, Steve Smith who has already played a few test matches without setting the world on fire. However, O’Keefe is just as talented with the bat and his figures with the ball appear far superior to Smith’s. This raises the question, why has Steve O’Keefe not been handed a baggy green?

The Allan Border Field in Queensland in mid-June was where the stage was set for young O’Keefe to stamp his name as a potential future spin bowling all-rounder capable of devastating spells with the ball and belligerent batting. With Australia ‘A’ in trouble at 6/92, out walked Sock at number 8, the game seemingly in the balance and added a sheen of respectability to the score line by top scoring with a mature 61. The Sri Lankans, ready to tackle, began batting with caution but were simply blown away in a sensational one man bowling show, O’Keefe the chief destroyer with 7/35. If this wasn’t enough, the side faltered again in the 2^nd innings but O’Keefe stepped up yet again and smacked 47 to provide the foundation for a crushing win over the tourists. Promptly after this performance O’Keefe jumped on a plane to join the Australian squad to play against Pakistan in England, unfortunately Steve Smith was given the nod ahead of his fellow New South Welshman and O’Keefe was left simply to be used as a net bowler and substitute fielder for the entirety of the Test series. Finally given a wonderful chance to represent his country in a Twenty20 against the Pakistanis, O’Keefe seized the opportunity and took 3/29 as well as taking two catches as the Australians narrowly lost the match.

As the months go on, O’Keefe’s bowling continues to improve as well as his skills as an all-round cricketer. The fact that he has only played 11 first class matches meant little to NSW cricket administrators as the twenty six year old was chosen as stand in captain of his state side ahead of more experienced players. The main form of criticism towards O’Keefe is that one game does not make a career. It may give the world a glimpse of what he is capable of in the future, but consistency is what should be rewarded with national selection. Many argue that O’Keefe must put in a few more dominating performances before he deserves the chance to don the baggy green. However, this is completely unjustified. Steve Smith was given a debut after a promising 7/64 in a Shield game which had the selectors licking their lips with delight over the next exciting spinner to emerge, since then, Smith has done little to justify his selection.  Xavier Doherty was promptly picked after taking a five wicket haul against the Victorians at the MCG, regardless of a first class bowling average nudging on 50. Michael Beer has been picked on the basis that he took five wickets in one game against the touring English, regardless of the fact that he has only featured at first-class level for five games. At this point, it is evident that the selectors are simply not taking experience or consistency into consideration for elevation to higher honours, more so, acting in hyper bursts of excitement over a single performance which bears little in comparison to the harsh stage of international cricket. With this in mind, the selection of Stephen O’Keefe, the next spinner in the proverbial line of Australian domestic cricket seems like the next logical option. Not only have devastating all-round performances been exhibited, but a sense of consistency is evident in O’Keefe’s game.

Over 11 first class games for his state, O’Keefe has spun out 42 victims at a phenomenal average of 23.5 with a five wicket haul and three bags of four, while at the same time averaging a healthy 46. 3 with the bat filled with 3 stroke-filled half centuries. Combining this with high class fielding and even potential captaincy and Stephen O’Keefe is effectively a four-in-one cricketer. The performances of this 26 year old suggest that there is far more to come, while at the same time show that an elevation to the top level is now long overdue. Australia is currently seeking a consistent match-winning all-rounder, with Mitchell Johnson at the pace bowling helm, O’Keefe could be the perfect supplement in the Australian outfit to catapult them back to the top of world cricket. Cricket fans all over the country are complaining of a lack of a genuine all-rounder in the Australian juggernaut, the best solution? Put a Sock in it.

Sanjeet Ajgaonkar.