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Man of the moment Steve O'Keefe has credited the leadership of Australia captain Steve Smith and the fielding of his team-mates for his breakthrough performance with the ball in the opening Test against India.
O'Keefe returned the remarkable figures of 6-35 on day two in Pune to help dismiss India for the embarrassing total of 105 and give Australia a 155-run first-innings lead, which the tourists extended to 298 after reaching stumps at 4-143 in their second knock.
The left-arm spinner, recalled to the Australia Test XI against Pakistan in Sydney last month, snared his six wickets at the expense of just five runs in the space of 24 deliveries and 38 minutes, triggering a staggering collapse from India, who had been 3-94.
It is only his fifth Test and first in India but O'Keefe grew in confidence after being handed the ball by Smith in the second over of the hosts' innings.
He made a nervous start and during the lunch break spent some time in the practice nets working with former India spinning all-rounder Sridharan Sriram, who is helping Australia during its four-Test series on the subcontinent.
But after overcoming the early jitters the 32-year-old began to make an impact with the ball and he praised his skipper for his show of faith.
"I thought Steve Smith was excellent again," O'Keefe told Grandstand.
"I was probably kicking the dirt a little bit at not bowling the way I'd wanted to, but he instils that belief and faith and it's amazing when you play under a captain who believes in you."
O'Keefe, whose previous best return in Tests was 3-53, admitted it was a whirlwind experience to spin Australia into a commanding position against a side ranked number one in the world and who it had not beaten in an away Test since 2004.
"I probably didn't bowl very well in my [first] six overs, and then it all just happened really quickly," he said.
"I guess that's the sort of wicket it is. We played and missed at a lot of balls, fortunately for us they nicked them and we caught them, so it was a good day to be a part of and well finished off by the batters."
O'Keefe benefits from Aussie fielding excellence
O'Keefe pointed to the fielding effort of the Australians as playing a key role in his Test career-best figures, with five wickets resulting from catches and the other from a stumping.
It was in stark contrast to the display of the Indians in the field on day two, with Smith being dropped on three occasions on his way to making an unbeaten 59.
"I think the fielding was a highlight of our performance today," O'Keefe said.
"Every half chance was taken and I think Petey Handscomb was the highlight and when those things go to hand it certainly makes a big difference."
Smith will resume on day three alongside all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who is on 21 not out.
First posted