Ashes Cricket: Bowler set to be dropped as Australian team could make selection move not seen in 15 years

hovering Todd Murphy selected for the fifth Ashes Test Jhye Richardson will likely be dropped, creating a unique moment not seen in Australia for 15 years. Murphy was in the Australian team Fourth test in MCGBut missed selection as the pitch suited seamers.

Australia went into Melbourne with an all-round pace attack and it proved to be the right decision as the pitch was very conducive to fast bowlers. But coach Andrew McDonald hinted broadly on Monday that Murphy would play at the SCG.

Richardson played his first Test in four years in Melbourne, but the West Australian will likely miss the match due to concerns about his workload. The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries over the past few years and the Australian team was happy to take him to the MCG as the fourth seamer.

But given Sydney’s need for a spinner, McDonald admitted there were concerns about Richardson carrying the heavy load as the third seamer. Murphy has played seven Tests so far in his career, but not even one in Australia.

with Nathan Lyon has a broken hamstring And having missed an extended period, Murphy’s selection would create a moment not seen on Australian soil in 15 years. The last time a specialist spinner played a Test in Australia in a match in which Lyon was not also playing was Michael Beer in the 2010/11 Ashes series.

Steve O’Keefe played two tests at the SCG in 2016 and 2017, but he suited up for Lyon. Murphy will be the first spinner to play on Australian soil in 15 years as the only tweaker not named Lyon.

Todd Murphy likely to play first Test of his career in Australia

Speaking on Monday, McDonald admitted that he does not like playing red-ball Tests without a spinner. “It’s not something we like to do,” the coach said. “I don’t think it’s something that will continue to happen. We didn’t pick a spinner because of the surface (in Melbourne), and I think that was all validated by the way the Test match played.

“I would love to pick Todd. I would love to see what he has to offer. Having played seven Test matches in his career, he has been in good form over the last two years as well.

“We talked about Sammy (Constas) before having a bit of a dip in terms of batting position, young spinners have that too. (Murphy) had some shoulder issues, and we think he’s back to his best.”

McDonald said of Richardson: “I think Jhye fits into a four-man pace attack, in particular, what we think his potential can be. Can he play in a three-man pace attack? That’s something we’ll have to decide, but he certainly fits well into that four-man pace attack.”