In three Tests so far, Murphy has claimed 11 scalps, including a seven-wicket haul on his debut in Nagpur.
In three Tests so far, Murphy has claimed 11 scalps, including a seven-wicket haul on his debut in Nagpur.
The 22-year-old Victorian off-spinner is enjoying his battles with the Indian batters, particularly Virat Kohli, having dismissed the superstar thrice in the series thus far.
“It’s been awesome. When I look back to Nagpur when he walked out to bat, I was at the top of my mark thinking this is as good as it gets… getting to bowl to a guy like that.
“So, to be able to have that for the first three Tests has been awesome, a really enjoyable battle and no different to bowling to a lot of their guys. When they stand there it is daunting at times,” Murphy told reporters ahead of the final Test beginning in Ahmedabad on March 9.
After losing the first two Tests, Australia bounced back strongly in the third Test, beating India by nine wickets at Indore to reduce the deficit to 1-2.
Kohli was looking good in the first innings at Indore before Murphy got one to turn back sharply from off-stump and in his attempt to play across the line, the star Indian batter got trapped in front of the wicket.
“It’s always nice when it looks like that. And I think the plans for around the wicket is always to challenge both sides of the edges, for that to work out the way it did was nice and to get him out again was awesome,” said Murphy when asked about his plans to dismiss Kohli.
In the first two Tests, the visitors fielded three specialist spinners. While the Aussies are not used to that back home, Murphy is not complaining.
“It’s something I’ve never really experienced, playing with two other frontline spinners. Steve (Smith) talked about it before the last Test, it’s about putting your ego away and knowing you’re going to bowl short spells at times.
“It doesn’t mean you’re not bowling well, it’s probably just accepting that and knowing that at certain times you’re going to be playing different roles. It’s been enjoyable and we’ve been able to work off each other very well and we’re quite different,” he said.
Not so long ago, Todd Murphy wasn’t even part of his state side. No wonder, he considers playing Test cricket in India a surreal experience.
“We spoke about it after Kuhny (Kuhnemann) debuted (in Delhi). At the start of the season we both weren’t in the state sides and to be here now playing Test cricket together is pretty surreal.
“It’s happened a lot faster than we both probably expected. We’ve just tried to enjoy it and the relationship is building nicely. We can talk about spin bowling, what works and what doesn’t,” he remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)