Australia announce team for Bangladesh tour, excludes Mitchell Starc, Steve O’Keefe

Australia have rested paceman Mitchell Starc and dropped left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe for the upcoming two-test series in Bangladesh, Cricket Australia said on Friday.

Starc featured in Australia’s failed Champions Trophy campaign but scans revealed the left-arm paceman has not fully recovered from the foot fracture that cut short his India tour earlier this year.

“Mitchell was due to go for follow-up scans after the Champions Trophy, as part of his recovery plan,” physiotherapist David Beakely said after CA named a 13-member squad. “He will now undertake a period of rest from bowling with the aim to have him return for the one-day series in India in late September as he begins his build up to the Ashes.”

Fit-again James Pattinson joined fellow pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, while the selectors will name a fourth fast bowler later.

O’Keefe was a notable omission, having taken 12 wickets in the first test in India and finishing as Australia’s joint leading wicket-taker in the series, which the hosts won 2-1.

“Whilst Steve O’Keefe bowled well in Pune, he did not maintain this level in the remaining matches of the series…” national selector Trevor Hohns said.

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar has been asked instead to partner off-spinner Nathan …read more