AUS vs ENG: Tom Moody Wants Todd Murphy To Replace Cameron Green In 5th Ashes Test

Former Australia National Cricket Team batter Tom Moody has called for the inclusion of young off-spinner Todd Murphy in the playing XI for the fifth and final Test of the Ashes 2023.

Murphy played his first Ashes Test at the Headingley in Leeds after Nathan Lyon got ruled out of the series due to an injury. It looked like the team had a lack of trust in his abilities as he bowled just 7.3 overs in the first innings and 2 overs in the second innings.

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Todd Murphy was left out of the playing XI for the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester as Australia opted to go with three frontline pacers and two all-rounders in Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh. The decision not to have a spinner backfired as they conceded 592 in just 107.4 overs in the only innings England batted.

Meanwhile, Tom Moody has said that Australia’s bowling attack lacked balance in the fourth Test and urged Australia to bring Murphy back into the team. He admitted that Murphy is not Nathan Lyon but added that Lyon is not Shane Warne either.

“I know that they would’ve had their various reasons behind not playing Murphy, whether that was based around the fact that there was the weather that was potentially on the horizon, but that’s no guarantee. That would have looked pretty stupid if it had backfired,” Moody told ESPNcricinfo.

“To me, the attack did look like it lacked balance. Murphy is an exciting young bowler. He is not Nathan Lyon, but Nathan Lyon is not Shane Warne either. Murphy needs to create his own path and have his own journey; he has started that already and he has started pretty successfully.

“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t come into the side just to create that balance, but also give the team better combinations for Pat Cummins to lean towards. In that fourth Test match, it was almost like he was looking around the field for options – and he was nearly looking in the mirror all the time.”

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Tom Moody Wants Australia To Drop Cameron Green

Tom Moody further said that Australia should pick Mitchell Marsh as the sole all-rounder in the playing XI and drop Green to make way for spinner Murphy. He elaborated:

“I think playing the two allrounders is a luxury, and to me, at this stage, Mitch Marsh is the one that looks like he can influence the game, which he’s already done since he’s returned with confidence.

“There’s no question Cameron Green has got remarkable upside, but the here-and-now selection is Mitch Marsh. There are very few players in the history of the game that haven’t had setbacks, or been left out of sides for team combinations or form or whatever it might be. If anything, it’s probably something that might do him [Green] the world of good.”

David Warner has struggled so far in the Ashes and has registered just one fifty-plus score. The opening batsman has registered scores of 9, 36, 66, 25, 4, 1, 32, and 28 in 8 innings. Many have called for Warner to be dropped for the fifth Test, but Moody thinks he will be retained for the Ashes finale.

“The way I look at it, them deciding to play him at Old Trafford was nearly committing to him for the series. If they were going to make a change, that was the moment to make it, but they clearly felt that he’d done enough.”

Australia are leading the series 2-1 after winning at Edgbaston and Lord’s and they have retained the Ashes urn. The Ashes finale is set to be held at The Kennington Oval in London from July 27 to 31.

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