Steve O’Keefe may have already played the match- winner’s role in the first Test.
The 32-year-old left-arm spinner’s haul of six for 35 in 13.1 overs, taking just 24 balls between his first wicket [K.L. Rahul] and sixth [Umesh Yadav] has put India on the back foot, and O’Keefe was thrilled about it.
“It’s amazing how things can quickly change over here. I was none for 30 off nine [overs], probably didn’t bowl very well at all in my first six overs,” said O’Keefe.
“And then, it all just happened really quickly, and I guess that’s the sort of wicket it is.
“We played and missed at a lot of balls, and — fortunately for us — they nicked and we caught them.”
O’Keefe acknowledged his captain’s role in the success.
“I think the important thing is I’ve been well backed up by Steve Smith; I think he’s a brilliant captain.
“When you play under a captain who shows a lot of belief in you, it’s amazing what can happen,” he said.
“I think one thing is that you’ve just got to be comfortable in your own skin. I know what I can do, I know what I’ve got and how to go about using what I’ve got.”
On Peter Handscomb’s two remarkable catches, the spinner said: “You have to say that we’ve had a bit of luck, but knowing Pete and how good he is as a fielder, it’s no surprise to us he takes those great grabs.”
Touching upon the change of ends, O’Keefe said: “We were debating it in the changing rooms. Mitchell Starc and I didn’t really care which end we bowled at.
“The idea was Mitch would create some footmarks for Nathan [Lyon] outside the off stump at that end.
“I think the move was just to bowl Nathan from that end because that’s the end that Ashwin bowled his overs from. So if the Indians are doing it why not fall in tow.
“Jadeja probably bowled most of his overs at [my] end, so it was just good fortune I guess.”
