Harbhajan Singh issues Steve O'Keefe challenge to perform on 'good' Test match wicket

New Delhi: The chief architect of Australia's rampant performance in Pune that led to India's epic collapse in the opening Test of the series, Steve O'Keefe has been issued a challenge to perform the same way on better pitches by none other than one of India's finest spinners, Harbhajan Singh.

Three days before of Australia inflicted India with one of their most embarrassing ever at home, Harbhajan came out to tag the touring Australian side as be "worst ever". The Indian offie was later made to bite his own words after the Steve Smith-led Aussies secured a stunning 333-run victory over the home side.

A fascinating century from skipper Smith coupled with an unbelievable 12/70 bowling figure by Steve O'Keefe was enough to dismantle the hopes of the No. 1 Test team in the world.

READ: Steve Smith climbs new mountain in ICC Test Rankings after historic ton against India in Pune

Alas for the Turbanator! Not only was he proved wrong, he was even trolled on social media sites for his prediction of a 4-0 or 3-0 series victory for Virat Kohli and Co.

Despite witnessing O'Keefe produce a historic performance, Harbhajan still hasn't lavished praise on the left-armer and rather said said that he would only share his views on the spinner after he tries to bowl on a "good Test match wicket".

The Aussie spinner's feat made him the most economical bowler on Indian soil over the past 10 years, yet what Harbhajan feels is that it was the pitch that helped him scalp those wickets and not his talent.

"I will have to see (O'Keefe) bowl on a good Test match wicket," Harbhajan told the Indian Express. "Not this one. Till then, I will reserve my comments. "To be honest, that wasn't a pitch. Test cricket should last five days."

The veteran off-spinner who has himself taken over 400 Test wickets, felt that the pitch was bad and that one cannot play on such a pitch where wickets fall on every other ball.

"You cannot play on such wickets where anyone runs in to bowl and takes wickets. "I have played in over 100 Tests, and I know how hard I had to work to earn every single wicket.

"When you prepare such a wicket, you are making conditions favourable for the opposition as well. That's what happened in Pune. "When I say a good Test wicket, I mean a strip where the ball does not shoot up from the first day itself."

READ: Sachin Tendulkar's message to Virat Kohli and Co. on Pune defeat proves why he is a cricketing legend

However, he did go on to praise the Australian skipper and his team following his trolls on twitter, but has refused to do the same so for O'Keefe so far.

It remains to be seen if the Malaysia-born O'Keefe can produce similar performance in the next match in Bengaluru, which starts off on March 4th.