Steve O'Keefe

Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg on Sunday wished good luck to compatriot Steve O'Keefe, who has announced his retirement from first-class cricket.

Spin bowler Adam Zampa has joined calls for a review of Australia's wickets, saying the country's drop-in pitches are driving slow bowlers out of first class cricket.

Of the nine Australian wickets to fall on day one of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Pune, the eighth included a moment of brilliance from India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.

Ahead of Australia's Test and ODI tour of India, former spinner Steve O'Keefe has raised the pitch for separate coaches for different formats, saying that it would help reduce the pressure on one individual.

The just-retired Steve O'Keefe has rued that spinners are not allowed to win matches in Australian cricket, saying the country will struggle to dominate in the sub-continent until the issue is not addressed.

Swearing off alcohol and excluding himself from the BBL have proven excellent choices by the left-arm spinner, who ransacked India with 12 wickets in Pune.

The four-Test series in India in 2017 began with an Australian win on the back of O'Keefe's bowling heroics in Pune. The New South Wales left-arm spinner finished with 12 wickets as Australia thrashed India by 333 runs. But despite Australia winning the first Test, India went on to clinch the series 2-1.

Australian spinner Steve O'Keefe believes it would be a daunting task to tame Virat Kohli and his men in the upcoming Test series in India but insisted that they are not infallible and might find the going difficult on turning wickets.

He emerged a hero in Australia's comprehensive win over India with his magical bowling but spinner Steve O' Keefe had not expected himself to cause batting collapse twice.

A legendary former leg-spinner, India coach Anil Kumble went to the extent of bowling left-arm spin to help Cheteshwar Pujara overcome the challenges posed by Steve O'Keefe in the ongoing Test series against Australia.

The Indian team, which lost the opening Test to Australia in Pune, was unaffected by the debacle at least in the ICC rankings. In fact, opener KL Rahul claimed his career-best ranking of 46th after scores of 64 and 10 in the match.

Australia's series continued to be defined by missed opportunities as an imperious, exacting India wrested an eight-wicket win, and with it a 2-1 series victory, to cap off a glorious home season. With the pitch and its attendant cracks amenable to some hostile pace and equally receptive to quality spin, sudden twists of fate had defined the first three days of the Test.

Statistical highlights on the third day of the opening Test between India and Australia on Saturday.

Australian captain Steven Smith rubbed salt into India's wounds saying that Virat Kohli and company dug their own grave by preparing a rank turner which backfired badly in the first Test.

Here's a look at the major talking points from the third day's play of the first Test between India and Australia in Pune.

Will the Indian team continue to play on a turning track after losing the opening Test against Australia by 333 runs or else opt for those type of pitches which won them the Test series against New Zealand and England?

Virat Kohli's dismissal was the focal point of the day. Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood trapped the Indian skipper leg before sparking dramatic scenes as Kohli fumed, convinced that the ball had made contact with the bat before hitting the pad.

Australia's Pune Test hero Steve O'Keefe in all likelihood will be dropped from the playing XI at expense of pacer Jackson Bird for the fourth Test match against India, starting Saturday.

Aaron Finch suffered a blow to his head during a Sheffield Shield encounter on Saturday and was substituted by Travis Dean after Australia's limited-overs captain experienced concussion symptoms.

Cheteshwar Pujara scored his 11th Test century, second against Australia and stood tall as wickets fell around him. India are 360/6, trailing Australia by 91 runs.