NIC Maddinson and Chadd Sayers have been dropped from Australia’s Test squad ahead of the series finale against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground next week.

The spin bowling duo of Ashton Agar and Steve O’Keefe have been named in their place, with Western Australian all-rounder Hilton Cartwright retaining his place in the squad.

Fox Sports understands Agar is in contention to bat at number six against Pakistan and will be competing with Cartwright for the spot.

O’Keefe did not travel with the Sydney Sixers to Adelaide ahead of Saturday’s Big Bash League clash with the Strikers and is likely to be named ahead of Test incumbent, Nathan Lyon, if only one spinner is selected at the Sydney Ground.

“It’s great to be in the squad again, especially after the frustration of the tour to Sri Lanka earlier in the year, but I’m not getting ahead of myself,” O’Keefe said. “It’s up to me to impress at practice over the next few days, hopefully earn a spot in the final eleven and then bowl well if given the opportunity.”

Smith revealed prior to play in Melbourne on Friday that two spinners was a genuine option for the Sydney Test.

“We’ve had a quick chat to Boof and Trevor Hohns last night,” Smith told ABC Grandstand on Friday morning. “I think we’re going to wait until this Test match is over and see where things are at moving forward.

“Obviously the bowlers have bowled quite a lot this game and they’ve had a pretty big summer, so there’s a few things to talk about.

“I guess it will depend on the wicket. I know in Shield cricket this year that wickets have been spinning quite a lot. We’ll look at that. It is a possibility.”

Hohns said Sayers was unlucky to miss out after being part of the squad for the past three Tests but declared the claims of O’Keefe and Agar were irresistible.

“Both Ashton Agar and Stephen O’Keefe have performed well in first-class cricket this summer and both have bowled well at the SCG this season too, so they deserve their selections here,” Hohns said. “And having them in Sydney along with Nathan Lyon means that we can have the three spinners working together in the lead-up to the Test.

Nathan Lyon is under pressure after a string of sub-par performances. Source: News Corp Australia

Lyon returned to form on day five of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, taking 3-33 to inspire a stunning innings and 18 run victory.

The off-spinner has been under mounting pressure this summer after claiming just nine wickets for 600 runs across the first four and a half Tests against South Africa and Pakistan.

O’Keefe was set to usurp the 62-Test veteran during the purge that followed Australia’s second Test defeat to South Africa, however injury prevented selectors from pushing forth with the move.

O’Keefe has taken ten wickets in his three Test matches to date.

Spin bowling has accounted for 36 of the 65 Sheffield Shield wickets to fall at the SCG this summer. O’Keefe’s personal first class haul at the ground this season is 11 wickets at 19.91.

Both O’Keefe and Agar opened the bowling in the second innings for NSW and Western Australia respectively during their Shield clash at the SCG in November. The spin bowling duo claimed 18 wickets between them for the match.

Agar is the equal eighth leading wicket taker in the Sheffield Shield this season, claiming 16 scalps at an average of 27.81.

He has also contributed 115 runs for WA at 19.16.

Agar still holds the world record for the highest Test score by a No. 11 batsman — a dashing 98 from 101 balls on debut at Trent Bridge. He smashed a six off the last ball to secure victory for the Perth Scorchers over the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League on Thursday night.

“After hitting the winning runs for the (Perth) Scorchers on Thursday night and then getting the call from Trevor Hohns on Friday morning, it hasn’t been a bad 24 hours!’ said Agar.



Maddinson has struggled mightily with the bat since he was called into Australia’s Test squad after the second Test defeat to South Africa earlier this summer.

He has managed scores of 0, 1, 4 and 22 at a time when fellow middle order rookie, Peter Handscombe, has shone with a century and two 50s from five innings.

“Nic Maddinson has been omitted after having a taste of Test cricket, something that will definitely benefit him,” Hohns said. “And we now want him to go back to domestic cricket and dominate to demand a return to the line-up, something we are confident he will do.”

Australia squad for the New Year’s Test: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade