SOK snares three as Aussies clean up

Cricket Australia have pulled spinner Stephen O'Keefe out of the KFC Big Bash League to focus his preparation on next month's Test tour of India.

O'Keefe had been named in the Sydney Sixers squad to make his return to Big Bash action in tonight's match against the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG, heralded by the club as one of the trio of Test players returning to the shortest format.

But while Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon will take their places at the SCG in Sixers magenta, O'Keefe will be sidelined from white-ball action to focus on the five-day format and will lead an advance party of select players to Dubai for a training camp ahead of the India tour.

CA's Executive General Manager of Team Performance, Pat Howard, said O'Keefe needed more red-ball practice before the pivotal four-Test series..

"Post the Sri Lanka tour last year we have been in talks with Cricket NSW and Steve on the best way for him to prepare for the Qantas tour of India," Howard said.

"After his recent injuries, which have caused him to miss Sheffield Shield matches this season, he has had a lot less red ball match practice than other players that are likely to tour India and it is important he gets as much bowling in the format he is going to play.

"His focus will now be on Grade and Futures League cricket before likely being one of the first players to depart for Dubai in late January."

CA are not expected to name a Test squad until later this month, with a five-match VB ODI series against Pakistan and a Chappell-Hadlee ODI tour of New Zealand to be played before players depart, but O'Keefe's name can now be all-but penned in.

O'Keefe had a horror run with injuries in the latter half of 2016, but made a successful return to Australia's Test XI for the Sydney Test earlier this month.

The left-arm orthodox spinner was an integral part of Australia's plans in Sri Lanka this winter, but in the second innings of the first Test in Pallekele he broke down with a hamstring injury chasing a ball in the field.

Upon returning to Australia he was fined $10,000 by Cricket Australia for "conduct unbecoming of a player" after a late-night incident at a Sydney hotel in August.

Playing for Manly-Warringah in the first round of the Sydney Premier Cricket competition, O'Keefe broke his finger attempting a catch. It ruled him out of the Blues successful title defence of the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup.

Fully recovered, he returned for NSW in their Shield clash against Western Australia at the SCG earlier this month where he collected 5-65 in the first innings and finished with match figures of 8-106.

After the Australian Test team's horror show in Hobart, where they were trounced by South Africa in a fifth straight Test defeat, O'Keefe was heavily touted to be called up to the team for the revamped side that played in Adelaide.

But an untimely low-grade calf injury picked up during a Shield match ruled him out, and Lyon put in a key performance to help kick-start an Australia resurgence.

O'Keefe has been replaced in the Sixers squad by Jordan Silk for tonight's BBL clash.