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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Aussie spinner likely to earn recall for SCG Ashes Test
Oliver Caffrey, AAP • December 30th, 2025 8:26 am
Todd Murphy | Photo: AAP
Todd Murphy is likely to earn a recall for the Ashes finale in Sydney after Australia coach Andrew McDonald admitted he doesn't like leaving a spinner out for red-ball Tests.
Called into the Australian squad following Nathan Lyon's long-term hamstring injury, Murphy was left out of the XI for the Boxing Day Test.
It was the first time in 14 years Australia hadn't picked a frontline spinner for a home red-ball Test.
Australia chose not to play Lyon for their most recent day-night Tests in Kingston and Brisbane, winning both of those matches.
Although they lost to England by four wickets in a frantic two days at the MCG, Australia's decision not to pick Murphy was vindicated by the grassy, pace-friendly pitch.
"It's not something that we like doing," McDonald said of not picking a spinner.
"I don't think it's something that will happen moving forward as well.
"We didn't pick a spinner in a red-ball Test match in Australia because of the surface that presented, and I suppose it was all validated with the way the Test match played out."
All of Murphy's seven Tests have been in Asia and England, the last coming in Galle against Sri Lanka in January.
Traditionally spin-friendly, the SCG pitch has offered more for pace bowlers during the last two years after rain-affected draws from 2020 to 2022.
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"I'd love to pick Todd. I'd love to see what he's got to offer," McDonald said.
"Seven Test matches into his career, he's well placed on the back of the last two years as well.
"We talked about Sammy (Konstas) before having a little dip in terms of the batting space, young spinners do have that as well.
"(Murphy) had some some issues with his shoulder, and we think he's back to his best."
Murphy will likely replace fit-again quick Jhye Richardson, who is coming off his first Test in four years.
Given the short turnaround between Tests, Richardson's injury history, and the surface in Sydney, the Western Australian paceman will almost certainly make way.
Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have played all four Tests this summer but are fit and ready for the Ashes finale.
Michael Neser was one of the few Australians to perform strongly in the Boxing Day Test, top-scoring in the first innings and bagging four wickets.
Reserve allrounder Beau Webster played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL on Monday night, but will return to the Australia squad ahead of the fifth Test.
Webster, who was left out of the Ashes opener and hasn't featured at all in this series, is under consideration to replace struggling allrounder Cameron Green.
After seven Tests this year, Webster is averaging a respectable 34.63 with the bat and has taken eight wickets at 23.25.
"It's a nice problem to have when people are talking about someone out of the team that's unlucky, it means that you've probably got a strong line-up," McDonald said.
"They're going to debate where Cameron's at, and how he fits.
"We know we've got a quality player (Webster) sitting there waiting.
"We've got a batting order that we'd like to think can function at a higher capacity (than it did at the MCG)."
Tune into Sport Nation for live ball-by-ball commentary of The Ashes series - the fifth Test begins January 4 - thanks to SEN.
