Steve O’Keefe hits back at ‘unjustified’ Aussie Test squad criticism
A former Australian cricketer has spoken out as criticism towards the Test squad continues after the humiliating defeat to India.
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Former Australian cricketer Steve O’Keefe has hit out at the “unjustified” backlash being directed towards the current Test squad.
Pat Cummins’ outfit was comprehensively outplayed by India in the first Test in Perth falling to a 295-run loss.
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The knives were out in force as criticism came flooding in from all corners with cricket fans calling for sweeping changes to the XI.
O’Keefe however isn’t having it and took aim at the critics, labelling it nothing more than “tall poppy syndrome”.
“It frustrates me … I think the pile-on is unjustified,” O’Keefe told SEN Radio.
“I think the pile-on is just indicative of a lot of people wanting to come out, tall poppy syndrome in Australia, and latch onto this team.
“I think the pile-on has been rough - however, we do expect a high standard of that team so there’s some frustrations out there, but they’re not coming from my end.”
While O’Keefe was keen to holster any criticism towards the team, Travis Head addressed speculation the dressing room is fractured.
Veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood stoked the flames of a divided dressing room when stating “you’ll have to ask the batters” when asked how the team would approach a massive 522-run deficit after day three.
His comments raised eyebrows among several cricket greats, but Head was keen to dampen that talk.
“I think (people have) picked the bones out of a comment on the back of a poor week, which is fine,” he told 7NEWS.
“It’s OK to be critical, we understand that. We stuck together, had some good conversations, definitely no fractions.
“All the boys hung out together last night.”
Next month’s Adelaide Oval clash marks the return of day-night Test cricket and the pink ball, a format Australia has excelled in to date.
In 12 day-night matches in Australia, the Aussie side has 11 wins and only one defeat, against the West Indies in Brisbane in January this year.
In Adelaide, it’s a perfect seven from seven victories.
“We play the pink ball well traditionally there and look we’re going to have to,” Head added.
“There’s no hiding behind that, we’ve got to play better.
“Nothing’s guaranteed in this game, but if we work hard, no reason why we can’t turn it around.”
The second Test against India will get underway on December 6 from 3pm (AEDT).
Originally published as Steve O’Keefe hits back at ‘unjustified’ Aussie Test squad criticism
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