Cricketers of the Week - February 19th to February 25th

#1 Steve O’Keefe

O’Keefe was on fire in the first Test against India

O’Keefe registered the second-best match figures by a bowler versus India in India in the first Test between India and Australia at Pune. He picked up two six-wicket hauls for a match tally of 12 wickets, conceding just 70 runs, as he traumatised the Indian batsmen.

Yet, he didn’t produce anything extraordinary. It was the good old spinner’s discipline and usage of the pitch, making the ball do just enough to pick the wickets, outplaying and out-bowling the much-vaunted Indian spin duo.

The 32-year-old, who picked up the Player of the Match award, made it to the Test team thanks to Steve Smith’s confidence in him, and god, did he justify his captain’s faith in him.