Jon Holland deserved Test spot ahead of Steve O’Keefe, believes ‘best friend’ John Hastings

While Steve O’Keefe is known to be John Hastings’ best friend to such an extent that the former became Hastings’ best man in his wedding, however Hastings believes Jon Holland was a more deserving candidate to get a spot in Australia’s squad for second Test against Bangladesh. Though Ashton Agar was the second specialist spinner along with Nathan Lyon in the match, O’Keefe, owing to his superb performance in India earlier, earned his spot in the squad named ahead of the second Test at Chittagong. But Hastings’ preference is his Victoria teammate. O’Keefe got the call up after Josh Hazlewood injured himself before the second Test against Bangladesh.

“I really feel for (Holland). Steve O’Keefe was best man at my wedding so I’m rapt for him, but he by all rights he probably doesn’t deserve to be there. He’s suspended by NSW [New South Wales] cricket and he’s over playing for Australia. It’s an interesting one that one,” Hastings told cricket.com.au, mentioning about the incident in which a drunk O’Keefe had blurted out some “highly inappropriate comments” which led to his suspension. “I don’t think Jon Holland can do any more than what he has done over the last few years. Last year he was prolific for the Bushrangers. He went up to Darwin, got four or five for one in a spell. I honestly don’t know what the selectors could be saying to him, if anything. It’s just unbelievable,” he added.

But Hastings believes Holland is a fighter.

“He’s not the type of bloke to sit back and feel sorry for himself … he’ll fight and come back hard and do what he normally does. He’s as fit as I’ve ever seen him. Most of the Bushrangers are. The type of character he is, he’ll do everything this season and keep showing them he should be there,” Hastings added.