Todd Murphy becomes youngest Australian spinner to bag five-for in Tests

Australia’s spin sensation, Todd Murphy, 22y 87d, became the youngest Australian spinner to bag a five-for in Test cricket. India and Australia have currently crossed swords in the first of the four-match Test series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

After only seven first-class games, the young Victorian also became the 35th Australian to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut after spinning a web around India’s star-studded batting order.

Murphy picked up wickets of KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Srikar Bharat to complete his sensational five-wicket haul. The young off-spinner helped the visitors stay alive in the contest, but India are in firm control at stumps on Day 2.

12 months ago, Todd Murphy had just played two first-class games and was gearing up to play club cricket in Darwin, Australia.

Even though Steve Smith dropped a few opportunities on Day 2, including one on the last over just before stumps, Australia will need to pull a rabbit out of the hat to even stand a chance in the first Test at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

Todd Murphy’s magical spell meant all four of Australia’s bowlers in the Nagpur test, namely, Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon, have all taken a five-for on Test debut.

Indian skipper put on a show with his sensational century, and courtesy of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, India currently are in the driver’s seat with a lead of 144 runs and will look to pile on the runs on Day 3 on a Nagpur surface that could start to play a few more tricks.