Nagpur: Australian cricket has a new spin sensation after Todd Murphy answered his country’s call with a stellar performance on debut, but the visitors face a mammoth task after India strengthened their hand in the first Test on Friday.
The hosts are firm favourites after Rohit Sharma’s near flawless century but the Echuca-born off-spinner provided them hope they can pull off something special over the weekend in the “Orange City”.
Todd Murphy celebrates taking the wicket of Virat Kohli on the way to a five-wicket haul.Credit:Getty Images
Murphy became only the 16th Australian man to take five wickets in his debut Test innings with the ball and the first in the baggy green to do so on the subcontinent since Nathan Lyon in Sri Lanka 12 years ago.
In a match with already numerous momentum swings, Murphy’s inspired opening act kept his side in the hunt, but Australia wilted in the final hour with an 81-run eighth-wicket stand between first-day hero Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel putting the home side well on top.
The match could be taking a vastly different complexion had Jadeja not been spared by a matter of millimetres on the stroke of lunch when, on 22, an umpire’s call on impact went against Murphy. He was also dropped in the final over of the day on 66 by Steve Smith.
At stumps on the second day, India were 7-321, a lead of 144. The challenge is now on one of Australia’s batters to match Sharma’s batting masterclass to give them a competitive total to defend.
A bespectacled off-spinner with the bookish looks displayed smarts beyond his years, Murphy showed why he has been touted as the long-term successor to Lyon.
Todd Murphy is congratulated by teammates after taking his fifth wicket during day two.Credit:Getty Images
Murphy, whose father Jamie played in a first-grade flag for St Kilda with the late great Shane Warne, had not made his first-class debut two years ago but now finds himself as a key player in Australia’s bid for glory in India.
Though conditions were in his favour, it is a difficult task to chase the game on foreign soil against such a powerful adversary, but Murphy bowled like a man undaunted by the occasion, even if he tired late with temperatures hovering in the mid-30s.
Luck played its part, admittedly, but he was rewarded for his control and preparedness to attack the stumps and make the batter play time and time again. Not many players can count Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara among their first handful of victims.
Rohit Sharma bats on the way to a century on day two.Credit:Getty Images
Matthew Hayden can be a tough judge of the current Australian team, but he – and former India coach Ravi Shastri – was effusive in their praise.
“Todd Murphy’s going to be here for a long time to come, these sorts of conditions in particular,” Hayden said on the broadcast.
“He’s had big wraps from a lot of quarters, from people who know a lot about cricket. I’m really impressed by his natural ability, to bowl stump to stump, get sideways spin and with great control.”
The junior members of Australia’s attack led the way. In his seventh Test, Scott Boland was superb. The Victorian made his career bowling on similar featherbeds at the MCG, experience which was put to good use in his first appearance on the subcontinent.
Pat Cummins celebrates after the dismissal of India’s captain Rohit Sharma.Credit:AP
His ability to take wickets seemingly at will at home has made him a cult hero but here it was his selfless and wholehearted approach to his workhorse role which commanded respect.
Though wicketless, he played a chief role in Murphy’s success, drying up the runs with his unerring accuracy. How Australia would have loved to have another Boland type in the attack.
Cummins improved from his unusually wayward spell on the first day, uprooting Rohit’s off stump for 120, immediately after he was grassed by Smith at second slip. Rohit, however, has the early honours in the battle of the captains.
He played like he was batting on a separate strip, hardly playing a false shot in an agenda-setting knock. He defended when Australia’s bowlers were on song, and attacked with purpose and minimal risk.
Meanwhile, Matthew Renshaw was sent for scans after experiencing what a Cricket Australia team spokesman said was slight soreness in his right knee before play. He returned to the field in the second session.
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