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š» IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE š»
England ready to pile the pressure on Aussie spinner
Oliver Caffrey, AAPĀ ā¢ Ā January 3rd, 2026 8:03 am
Todd Murphy is keen to resume hostilities against the England batters | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
England opener Zak Crawley has warned their batters will take the attack to Todd Murphy if the spinner is selected for his first Test in Australia.
After being left out for the two-day debacle at the MCG, Murphy looks likely to play in the Ashes finale in Sydney at Jhye Richardson's expense.
The 25-year-old played two Tests in the 2023 Ashes series after Nathan Lyon tore his calf muscle.
England went after Murphy at Headingley, with Ben Stokes hitting five sixes off the spinner.
Opener Zak Crawley says England's batters will take the attack up to Aussie spinner Todd Murphy | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
He was subsequently left out for the next Test in Manchester, before rebounding well with six wickets in the series finale at The Oval.
All of Murphy's seven Tests have been in Asia or England.
"Whoever plays, I think that's the mantra of our team, is to try and put pressure on people," Crawley said.
"Todd's a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers.
"That's going to come with some risks, and if it's turning it's definitely going to be a threat.
"But I think we'll try and put pressure on all their bowlers."
Ricky Ponting on the form of Marnus, Jake Weatherald and Cam Green | SEN Cricket
England kept the door open for their own "No.1 spinner" to play his first Test of this Ashes series, with Shoaib Bashir named in a 12-man squad for Sydney.
While Matthew Potts will replace the injured Gus Atkinson, Bashir is seemingly vying with Will Jacks to be England's spinner for the final Test.
Prioritised for the past two years with an eye to this Ashes series, Bashir has not been picked for any of the first four Tests.
Jacks has instead played in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, despite England spin coach Jeetan Patel insisting a fortnight ago that Bashir was still their "No. 1 guy".
Crawley, who played a crucial knock in the successful run chase at the MCG, said England had gained confidence out of their first win in Australia for 15 years.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir is a chance to play in the fifth Ashes Test after being named in England's 12 | Photo: James Ross/AAP
After England conceded the Ashes by losing in Adelaide, Crawley said it would be a "pretty good series" if they managed to end it 3-2 down.
"I think there's a big difference just internally in the group," Crawley said when asked the difference between losing 4-1 or 3-2.
"It just shows a lot about our group and how united we are if we can get a win.
"It might not go our way, but if we can put up a good performance this week, that says a lot about the group."
Tune into Sport Nation for live ball-by-ball commentary of The Ashes series - the fifth Test begins January 4 - thanks to SEN.
