Stephen O’Keefe staying off alcohol in bed to restart his Test career

STEPHEN O’Keefe has revealed former head of selectors Rod Marsh put his Test career on notice during a fiery conversation following a boozy night out.

STEPHEN O’Keefe has revealed former head of selectors Rod Marsh put his stalled Test career on notice during a fiery conversation in the aftermath to a boozy night out.

The blast came after O’Keefe was fined $10,000 and ordered to undergo counselling in August for allegedly abusing police, security and management at Manly’s Steyne Hotel.

At 32, O’Keefe knows he is running out of chances to carve out a Test career as he continues his injury comeback. He has just three baggy green caps, including the SCG Test last summer, with 10 wickets at 35.6.

Despite his impressive efforts with the white ball, including 1-16 off four overs in the Sydney Sixers’ nine-wicket BBL win over the Sydney Thunder on Tuesday, O’Keefe is only interested in playing for Australia at Test level after heeding Marsh’s warning.

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O'Keefe got his BBL season off to a good start. Pic: Gregg Porteous.

“He told me my behaviour (that night in Manly) didn’t reflect that of an Australian player, and if I made another mistake like that to not contact him,’’ O’Keefe said ahead of the Sixers’ Big Bash League clash with Hobart.

“He basically told me if I made another mistake, I was done in his eyes. It was an important message I had to hear and I respect him for saying it.’’

O’Keefe is on an alcohol ban and said he had lost count of the days since his last cold one.

“I stopped counting when I got to around 110 days,’’ O’Keefe said.

“If I was to be brutally honest, there hasn’t been a massive change. People comment and say, ‘you’re looking well and fit’, but things feel the same. That’s one thing I didn’t expect. I thought I’d be jumping out of my skin, but I haven’t seen a massive difference.

“When I do decide to have a beer again, I’ll make sure it’s in the right company and for the right reasons.’’

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O’Keefe has another chance against the Hurricanes at the SCG, to prove he could work in tandem with NSW teammate Nathan Lyon in next month’s Sydney Test.

Should Australia wrap up the Test series against Pakistan in Melbourne, selectors are giving serious thought to playing O’Keefe as the second spinner in his home town. They want to make sure his body will survive the rigours of five-day cricket, especially with a tour of India scheduled in February.

O’Keefe broke down with a hamstring injury during a Test in Sri Lanka, and it was when he returned home he landed in hot water for a drunken night out in Manly.

O'Keefe is focusing on getting back to his best. AFP Photo / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi.

A broken little finger playing club cricket and a calf strain suffered during a Sheffield Shield game against Victoria have stalled O’Keefe’s time on the pitch in recent months, and raised concerns with selectors.

“But I had a month off to get stronger and fitter,’’ O’Keefe said.

“I actually think playing Twenty20 cricket is a better indicator of me being able to put my body through the high-intensity stuff, which is generally when you would expect to do a muscle strain.

“Sprinting after balls, going at maximum efforts, I’ve got all the confidence in my body.’’