Nathan Lyon’s return to the Big Bash couldn’t be more timely, with India-bound young gun Todd Murphy set to mine his Sydney Sixers teammate for every bit of information possible before they jet off on January 31 for the biggest series since last summer’s Ashes.
Murphy was quick to call his parents on Tuesday morning when national selection chief George Bailey called to confirm speculation was right, and Murphy, who has played just seven games for Victoria, was going to India.
The 22-year-old, who hails from Moama on the NSW side of the Murray River, has taken 29 wickets in his seven first-class games for Victoria, earning plaudits from plenty. He said he had no playing expectations as one of four spinners, and the only uncapped player, in the 18-man squad.
Watch BBL12. Every game live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Bailey said it was not a “development tour” for Murphy and he was “absolutely” a chance to play in one of the four Tests, possibly alongside Lyon.
“It’s certainly not a development tour,” Bailey said.
“He’s earned his spot through his performances and what we think he can do.
“Whether he can play alongside Gaz is a question, but they are different as far as off-spinners go. But you often play two right-handed quicks if they’re your best two. That’s something we’ll weigh up.”
Murphy also said he was “definitely” up for the challenge of Test cricket if he got his chance despite suggestions it would be a bad idea to throw him to the wolves against the powerful home team in their own conditions.
“I’m open to learning and sort of whatever comes from that, comes from that. If that means playing, then awesome, but the learnings I am going to take out of it will hold me in good stead,” Murphy, who didn’t take up off-spin bowling until he was 16, said on Wednesday.
“It definitely excites me but I’m under no illusions of how difficult it might be at times with how well they do play spin bowling. Being a young spinner, to go over and get the learnings early, it will help me going forward.
“I’m open for whatever is going to come. It’s an awesome opportunity to get at this stage of my career.”
Murphy’s veteran Sixers teammate, spinner Steve O’Keefe, who famously took 12 wickets in Pune in 2017 in an Australian victory, labelled the young spinner “the best since Nathan Lyon”, having seen him up close.
While desperate to keep a lid on any hype, a more modest Murphy said he’d now turn to O’Keefe and Lyon, who has played in not only India but Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to gain every bit of insight he could.
“There will be some really good conversations I will be able to have with guys now, even SOK (O’Keefe) to be able to speak to him about his experiences,” he said.
“Then Gaz (Lyon) comes back to us (the Sixers) for the next few weeks, so to be able to have those conversations now about what I might be in for is really good to set me up.
“I’ll try and have as many conversations as I can and get out as much out of those guys who have been there before and any little things they can give me is going to be beneficial.”
Without any formal tour games before the first Test at Nagpur on February 9, there will be a pre-tour camp in Sydney where Murphy said the four spinners would likely all gather to share information and plans to take down the home team.
“Having those sort of guys there for me to watch and work with is going to be unbelievable,” he said.
“To be able to spend a good chunk of time with them, to build relationships and learn about the things they have done which makes them so successful will be great.
“From what you see, India is the biggest challenge we face in cricket. If there’s ever a good time it’s now to go and take them on.”
