Australian spinner Steven O Keefe is highly disappointed with his omission from the Australia A squad which will be touring India before the Test series against Pakistan.
The three spinners selected in the squad are Mitchell Swepson, Jon Holland and Ashton Agar who are trying to forge a spin quartet for Australia along with Adam Zampa on the sidelines.
With Nathan Lyon as the first choice spinner for the Pakistan series, the toss up is among the other three to be the second spinner in the Test series. Steven O Keefe thought doesn't want to believe that his chances are over.
Keefe can pinpoint to his performances on Asian soil, one against Bangladesh and the other and more prominent against India where he took 12 wickets and played a key role in Australia's win at Pune. The win at Pune was Australia's first win in Asia in six years.
"I would have loved to have gone (to India) and I think I would've performed really well over there given I've done that in the past," O'Keefe told cricket.com.au.
"You can read into that (omission from the 'A' tour), you can go 'he's done', the same as when I didn't get a contract or things that have happened in the past.
"I know I'm good enough to go over and play in subcontinental conditions, I've proven that, and if I'm producing the goods at the right time then I think the opportunities are still there.
"If you're still playing for your state then surely you're a big chance to play for Australia.
"Disappointed I'm not going, I would have loved to have gone.
"The more experience you get when you go to those places you only get better and better.
"I feel like I've learnt a lot and would have loved to learn more but I wasn't picked. What can you do about it?"
The Test squad for the Pakistan series is expected to be named at the conclusion of the 'A' tour, which doesn't leave much time for O'Keefe to impress the national selectors.
O'Keefe's earliest match would be NSW's first JLT One-Day Cup fixture against Western Australia in Perth on September 18, one week after the 'A' tour finishes in Vizag.
(Inputs from Cricket Australia)
