‘More than a jab’: Kerry O’Keeffe’s jokes leave legends, commentators in stitches
Commentator Kerry O’Keeffe is known for telling a joke or two, but on the first day of the Pakistan Test match he was simply on fire.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former Test spinner turned commentator Kerry O’Keeffe is known for telling a joke or two, but on the first day of the Pakistan Test match he was simply on fire.
The man affectionately known as ‘Skull’ delivered his first gag at the expense of fellow commentator Ian Smith.
O’Keeffe told a story about Pakistani seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s brother Riaz before taking a hilarious jab at his Kiwi counterpart.
Watch Australia v Pakistan on Kayo Sports. Every Test match Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
“One of seven brothers of course Shaheen Shah Afridi, his other brother Riaz was a very formidable bowler, terrific first class record,” O’Keeffe said.
“When he was young, if Pakistan lost a Test match he didn’t eat for two days, what did you do when New Zealand lost Smithy?... you ate for 48 hours.”
“That’s a seriously early punch, that’s more than a jab... my god,” Smith replied.
The next came during the lunch break when fellow pundits Mark Howard and Michael Vaughan were reflecting on Alex Carey’s controversial Ashes stumping.
English batsmen Jonny Bairstow walked out of his crease and O’Keeffe used a peculiar anecdote to explain why the middle order star shouldn’t have walked away.
He used famous Aussie whistleblower Julian Assange’s seven-year stint in the Ecuadorean embassy as a metaphor the attitude Bairstow should have had to his crease.
“Skull you were sitting at home watching, are you giving him out?” Howard asked.
“Of course I am, you treat the popping crease as Julian Assange treated the Ecudorian embassy, you just don’t leave it,” O’Keeffe replied to a barrage of laughter.
“It’s unsafe to leave, you’ll get arrested, Jonny Bairstow was arrested and he said I’m innocent.”
His third hilarious quip came when Howard spoke on the first ever Test match that was tied, explaining the events that unfolded after the match’s conclusion.
“Both teams ran off and neither knew who’d won, they didn’t actually know it’d been a tie but they knew it was exciting,” O’Keeffe said.
“This vision of nonstriker Frank Worrall, or how he’s know at Fox, Wank Forrall... this is Wank at the nonstriker’s end.”
Once again, the trio were left in stitches as Howard requested the vision of the clash be played.
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘More than a jab’: Kerry O’Keeffe’s jokes leave legends, commentators in stitches
‘It’s coming out of the umpire’s stomach’: Facing up to Jasprit Bumrah
It’s a bowling action that is as compelling to watch as it is dangerous to face, but what is the key to Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah’s action? We go to the experts to break it down.
The key detail which could make Smith the greatest again
Steve Smith has regularly spoken about the phenomenon of ‘losing his hands’ and then ‘finding’ them again in the never ending pursuit of his nirvana at the crease. He may have rediscovered the detail which placed him among the world’s best batsmen.