O'Keefe to Replace Hauritz for Pak Series

Sydney: Australia on Wednesday gave a surprise call-up to uncapped spin-bowling all-rounder Stephen O'Keefe, who will replace the injured Nathan Hauritz in the Test squad to face Pakistan in England.

The 25-year-old left-armer earned his breakthrough on the back of strong performances for Australia A and after Hauritz went home with a foot problem, further depleting the tourists' bowling stocks.

"Stephen has performed strongly in the recent Australia A series against Sri Lanka A in Queensland and is a good young all-round cricketer who deserves his chance," said selectors' chairman Andrew Hilditch.

O'Keefe joins the tour, moved from extremism-wracked Pakistan for security reasons, for two Twenty20 matches and two Tests starting next Monday. Australia are already 3-0 down in their ongoing five-match one-day series with England.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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