If selectors thought they had a tough time trying to choose between Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood for the Boxing Day Test, then they better be ready for another headache with a Sixers young gun staking his claim for a Sydney debut.
The SCG pitch is reminiscent of the decks of years gone by when picking two spinners was a no-brainer, and it’s why selectors could look to bring in another tweaker to partner Nathan Lyon for the third Test against South Africa.
Australia hasn’t picked two specialist spinners for the Sydney Test since Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe combined for nine wickets in a big win over Pakistan in 2017.
While Lyon is a certainty to play in Sydney, there’s plenty of debate as to who would partner him if selectors opted for a second spinner.
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Mitch Swepson is the incumbent second option and provides a point of difference given he turns the ball away from right-handers.
White-ball specialists Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa are also in the mix, although the latter conceded in commentary on Thursday night that he was more focused on the upcoming Indian tour.
Then there’s young gun Todd Murphy, who has received glowing praise from cricketers around the country after his hot start to first class cricket where he’s taken 29 wickets in seven matches.
“I’m not really sure. I haven’t really looked too far ahead at that,” Murphy said when asked if he thought he was a chance to debut at the SCG.
“For me, it’s been about trying to break into the Sixers team and play a role when I can.
“I haven’t really thought about it, but they (the selectors) may go a different way with a bit of variation and not play two right-arm off-spinners. That’s fine because I don’t have any preconceived ideas about what they’re thinking.
“I’d love for them to play two spinners in Sydney. In Australia you never really see it, but if there’s a circumstance when you do see it, then it’d be out here. I’d love to see them go that way.”
Murphy bowled well in his first BBL appearance of the season, finishing with figures of 1/18 to help the Sixers sneak home against the fast-finishing Hurricanes.
The 22-year-old picked up the big wicket of Matthew Wade, who said Murphy was the future of Australian cricket.
“He’s a nice bowler. I’ve faced him before in Shield cricket and he looks to be a star in the making,” he said.
“It looks like he’ll take Gazza’s spot when Gazza (Lyon) decides to call it quits. He’ll wait around for that opportunity. He was pretty impressive tonight. The ball was spinning a bit and stopping in the wicket.”
