However, with the final Test of the 2025-26 Ashes against England being played in Sydney, a notoriously spin-friendly surface, Murphy’s long-overdue Australian debut looks as likely as ever.
With Australia’s 15-year spin veteran Nathan Lyon suffering an ugly hamstring injury at Adelaide Oval, Murphy, a strong like-for-like replacement for Lyon, is in the driver’s seat to round out the series as Australia looks to regroup after a loss at the MCG.
While the Australian squad for the fifth Test has yet to be announced, Murphy’s inclusion in the fourth Test squad over spin competitors Matthew Kuhnemann and Corey Rocchiccioli is a good sign that he is the heir-apparent to Lyon, Australia’s second-highest wicket taker in Tests.
It's been a rough series for spinners so far, with Lyon only playing in Perth and Adelaide for Australia while England’s specialist tweaker Shoaib Bashir hasn’t played at all, England instead opting for a part-timer in Will Jacks.
Murphy has seven Test caps for Australia, with all of his national appearances coming overseas, playing in India, England and Sri Lanka, taking 22 wickets at 28.13,
This summer has been a busy one domestically for the 25-year-old, taking 2-7 and 1-57 in Australia A’s innings victory over the English Lions touring squad.
The right-arm off-spinner has also featured in two Big Bash League games as part of the Sydney Sixers, taking 1-26 against the Perth Scorchers and 1-15 against the Sydney Thunder before joining the Australian squad ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
