On Tuesday morning, the Australian selectors named the 15-man squad for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Aussies looking to go 4-0 up in the Ashes series after successfully retaining the urn in Adelaide last week.
Speculation had been rife about who would fill the frontline spinner role in the team after established first option Nathan Lyon tore his hamstring in the outfield early on the fifth day of the Adelaide Test on Sunday.
Murphy was one of three names regarded to be in contention for the spot, beating out left arm Queenslander Matthew Kuhnemann and uncapped West Australian Corey Rocchiccioli to join the squad.
The former Moama Cricket Club man is expected to slot into Lyon’s place in the first XI, as the only frontline spinner named in a like-for-like swap for Australia’s second highest ever wicket-taker.
Although he is the only specialist spinner in the squad, the 25-year-old isn’t guaranteed to take to the field on Boxing Day, the final lineup to be named shortly before play begins on Friday.
Australia did opt to go without a dedicated spinner at the Gabba earlier in the series, notably dropping Lyon for a home Test for the first time in 14 years, but it’s likely the hosts will hand Murphy his first Test cap since he battled Sri Lanka in Galle from January 29 to February 1 this year.
Murphy has suited up for seven Tests overseas, playing in India, England and Sri Lanka, taking 22 wickets at 28.13, but has never been called upon on home soil.
Recently, Murphy took 2-7 and 1-57 in Australia A’s innings victory over the English Lions touring squad, while the right arm off-spinner has featured in the Sydney Sixers’ past two Big Bash League contests, taking 1-26 against the Perth Scorchers, and 1-15 against the Sydney Thunder on Saturday.
Murphy’s inclusion for Lyon was one of two changes to the Australian Test squad, captain Pat Cummins also excluded as he manages his return from a recent back injury, replaced in the 15-man lineup by Jhye Richardson.
Richardson will hope to beat out Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser, who have both already featured in the series, for Cummins’ fast bowling slot.
Steve Smith will captain the Australians in Melbourne, as he did in Perth and Brisbane before missing the third Test with vertigo.
Australian Test squad
Todd Murphy
Steve Smith (c)
Scott Boland
Alex Carey
Brendan Doggett
Cameron Green
Travis Head
Josh Inglis
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Michael Neser
Jhye Richardson
Mitchell Starc
Jake Weatherald
Beau Webster
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