Todd Murphy (Photo Source: Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody backed young spinner Todd Murphy to be a part of the fifth and final Test at The Oval in London, slated to begin on Thursday, July 27. After a rain-ruined fourth Test in Manchester, the Aussies retained the Ashes with a scoreline of 2-1 in the ongoing five-match series.
Notably, the Pat Cummins-led side headed into the fourth Test with the likes of three frontline pacers and two all-rounders. Conceding 592 runs in just 107.4 overs of the second innings, England seemed to be in a formidable spot to get back on level terms in the series. However, to Australia’s luck, persistent showers at the venue wiped out the remainder of the contest, forcing the match to conclude in a draw.
Ahead of the fifth Test at The Oval, Moody backed the idea of including Murphy in the setup so as to strike a balance in the playing XI.
“To me, the attack did look like it lacked balance. Murphy is an exciting young bowler. He is not Nathan Lyon, but Nathan Lyon is not Shane Warne either. Murphy needs to create his own path and have his own journey; he has started that already and he has started pretty successfully,” Moody told ESPNcricinfo.
“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t come into the side just to create that balance, but also give the team better combinations for Pat Cummins to lean towards. In that fourth Test match, it was almost like he was looking around the field for options – and he was nearly looking in the mirror all the time,” he added.
The 22-year-old offie featured in the Headingley Test before getting dropped for the following Test in Manchester. Murphy managed to get a solitary wicket in Australia’s loss in the third Test.
India and England are two hardest places to win away from home: Tom Moody
Moody further highlighted England’s fightback in the series and lauded Australia to get a stranglehold early on in the series. Unable to win an Ashes series away from home since 2001, the Aussies will be gunning to win the final Test and break the peculiar record.
“To get a stranglehold so early in the series was credit to Pat Cummins and his team. To win away from home is difficult anywhere in the world, but probably the two hardest places are India and England. After the way the game petered out at Old Trafford, I would imagine their mindset would be making sure that they put the final nail in the coffin and try to win 3-1,” he added.