Todd Murphy reveals surprising family link to Shane Warne – and his biggest aim on the Ashes tour

Up-and-coming Aussie spinner Todd Murphy reveals his very surprising family link to Shane Warne – and his biggest aim on the Ashes tour

  • Todd Murphy is hoping to play in Ashes series
  • Likely to be Nathan Lyon’s understudy in England
  • Spinner snared 14 wickets on recent Indian tour 

Rising Australian off-spinner Todd Murphy has revealed his family link to the late Shane Warne – before outlining his goals for the Ashes.

Murphy, 22, made his Test debut on the tour of India in February, and was impressive, snaring 14 wickets on the subcontinent.

The promising tweaker has revealed his father Jamie was a teammate of Warne’s at the St Kilda Cricket Club in Melbourne –  is aware he will be second fiddle to Nathan Lyon in England, but is happy to bide his time and learn off the ‘GOAT’.

‘I’m going to try and compete as hard as I can and keep trying to develop my skills as best I can,’ Murphy, who played just seven first class matches for Victoria before his Test debut this year, told Code Sports.

‘At the moment, I know where I sit in that sense, and, Gaz [Lyon] has been so good for so long, and rightly deserves to be still the No.1 spinner in Australia by a long way.

Todd Murphy was a revelation on the recent tour on India, snaring 14 wickets in the series

Murphy was named in the 17-man Ashes squad, but is likely to play second fiddle to Nathan Lyon (pictured)

Murphy was named in the 17-man Ashes squad, but is likely to play second fiddle to Nathan Lyon (pictured)

Murphy also revealed his father Jamie (pictured middle) played grade cricket in Melbourne with the late Shane Warne

Murphy also revealed his father Jamie (pictured middle) played grade cricket in Melbourne with the late Shane Warne

‘I’ve got no qualms with that. But yeah, I’m definitely going to be there and try to keep tapping into him and keep developing as much as I can. 

‘And if an opportunity arises, try and make sure that I’m best equipped to take it. But I’m under no illusions of where I sit in that order.’

Ahead of the Ashes – which starts on June 16 with the first Test in Edgbaston – Murphy was due for a stint in county cricket with Durham, but a couple of niggles sustained over in India saw that opportunity vanish.

‘The intention was there, and the opportunity I was really excited by,’ he said.

‘I had a lot higher workload over in India than I think we all expected [he bowled a total of 137 overs in the Test series].

‘Unfortunately, I had a little left knee meniscus injury and then a right Achilles as well… and if you don’t rectify it, they just linger around and annoy you the whole time.’

Steve Smith (Sussex) and Marnus Labuschagne (Glamorgan) have both played county cricket in recent weeks as they look to adapt to the Dukes ball.

And quick Michael Neser – who was overlooked for the Ashes – recently claimed a hat-trick for Glamorgan.

But before a ball is bowled between Pat Cummins’ side and England, Australia and India will meet in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval in London from June 7.

New Zealand defeated India in the inaugural WTC decider in 2021.

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