Coulter-Nile, O'Keefe in Aussie squad for Lanka series

Left-arm orthodox spinner O'Keefe could offer backup to Lyon if Australia goes in with two spinners

brisbane - Australia selectors have recalled Stephen O'Keefe as a second spinning option and given paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile a chance to push for his Test debut in a 15-man squad for the three-match series in Sri Lanka.
Cricket Australia announced the squad Tuesday, with Mitchell Starc expected to return to the Test format following ankle surgery to lead a pace attack also containing Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird.
Coulter-Nile, 28, is coming back from a shoulder injury that forced him out of the reckoning for selection for his test debut against the West Indies last December. He has played 13 limited-overs internationals and 17 Twenty20 Internationals for Australia since 2013.
Left-arm orthodox spinner O'Keefe could offer backup to Nathan Lyon if Australia goes in with two spinners, and Moises Henriques - who played all three of his Tests so far in India in 2013 - was added as an all-rounder.
The first Test starts July 26 at Kandy, with the series following Australia's tour to the Caribbean for a limited-overs tri-series against the West Indies and South Africa.
"Henriques comes into the squad to give the flexibility of an additional all-rounder option, having already shown he plays and adapts well to spin-friendly conditions," Australia selector Rod Marsh said. "Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-Nile join the squad and will give us good control and pace."