Australia’s cricket team has made an incredible comeback in the ongoing four-match Test series against India. They clinched their first victory of the series by defeating India by nine wickets in the third Test played in Indore. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon was named the Player of the Match for his outstanding figures of 11/99, which destroyed the Indian batting line-up.
While Lyon stole the limelight, another spinner, Todd Murphy, has been quietly impressive in the series. Murphy was chosen ahead of experienced Ashton Agar in the first Test and has lived up to the expectations of his team. He has claimed several crucial wickets in the series, including the prized scalp of Indian captain Virat Kohli, whom he dismissed thrice in three games.
In a recent interview with Fox Sports, Murphy spoke about the challenges he faced while bowling to top Indian batsmen. The 22-year-old said that it was a daunting task to bowl to players like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Cheteshwar Pujara on his debut tour. However, he also added that it was an incredible experience to have the opportunity to bowl to these stalwarts.
Murphy credited his preparation for Victorian one-day games and his BBL campaign for the Sydney Sixers as the key to his success in the series. He revealed that his ability to use side-spin to great effect was a result of varying seam positions and speeds, which he had practiced during his white-ball cricket stint.
Despite not bowling many overs in Indore, Murphy maintained that it did not affect his rhythm. During the third Test, left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann bowled more in tandem with Lyon, but Murphy was ready to contribute whenever required.
Australia’s remarkable comeback in the series has been impressive, and Murphy’s performance has been a key factor. With the series level at 1-1, the fourth Test promises to be an exciting contest between two top cricketing nations.
