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Spinner Murphy hoping for another taste of Sri Lanka

3 minute read

Back to his best following a shoulder injury, offspinner Todd Murphy is confident he can again deliver in Sri Lanka if selected for the upcoming tour.

TODD MURPHY. Picture: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images

Having already enjoyed success in Sri Lanka, rising spin bowler Todd Murphy is confident he can make an impact if called into the Australia line-up for next year's tour.

The 24-year-old is putting his hand up to remain as the understudy to leading offspinner Nathan Lyon for the two-Test tour in January and February.

In 2022 Murphy, playing just his third first-class match, starred for Australia A, taking four wickets against Sri Lanka A in Hambantota.

The Victorian then earned his Test debut and didn't disappoint with impressive figures of 7-124 against India in Nagpur, becoming the youngest Australian spinner to claim a five-wicket haul in his first start.

He finished the tour taking the prized wicket of Virat Kohli four times and that of Cheteshwar Pujara twice, before two more chances came in the 2023 Ashes with Lyon injured.

While only another injury would keep veteran Lyon from this summer's home Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Murphy told AAP he has eyes on Sri Lanka.

"When you look ahead at the schedule, and how good Nathan (Lyon) is and how consistent he is, you probably look at the overseas tours as potential opportunities," Murphy said on Wednesday.

"Sri Lanka's there and, I think a couple of us guys that are bowling have been assured that we're going to get an opportunity and hopefully playing a part for Australia."

While Murphy has established himself as Australia's second spinner West Australian tweaker Corey Rocchiccioli has also had an impressive start to the summer.

Matt Kuhnemann can also offer the variety of a left-arm finger-spinner, while Adam Zampa is hoping to debut in Sri Lanka as a leggie.

All also have the challenge of playing their first-class cricket in Australia, in extremely different conditions to where Test chances come in the subcontinent.

"Trusting that I've been to India a couple of times, I've been to Sri Lanka so when I do go over there, it's not foreign in what I'm doing," Murphy said.

"I went there for an A tour and it was great fun - it was my first A tour and I was lucky enough to pick up a few wickets and I thought I bowled quite well over there so I'm confident that if I did get the opportunity to go over there I'd be able to do quite well."

Coming off his taste of Test cricket, Murphy endured a frustrating summer in 2023/24 due to a right shoulder niggle.

While the injury was something he had to "manage" the Sydney Sixers bowler said he felt he was back to his best with 18 first-class wickets at 27.27 this summer..

"Compared to this time, last year, it's in a hell of a lot better spot," he said.

"I think that's been probably the most pleasing part about the start of the summer is I've been able to take some wickets in different conditions around Australia."