Todd Murphy

Australia might have found the answer to who succeeds Nathan Lyon when the time comes. Todd Murphy made his Test debut after just seven first-class matches for Victoria and was outstanding on the 2022-23 tour of India, beginning his career with a seven-wicket haul in Nagpur. Similar in many ways Lyon, Murphy can get the ball to drift and is able to beat the bat on both edges.

By the end of 2023 he had played six Tests - two against England coming after Lyon's Ashes was ended by injury - although only one more followed in the next two years. The significant increase in workload having been elevated to Test cricket resulted in some injury challenges, but in late 2025 he was back around the Test squad - again after Lyon suffered an Ashes-ending injury - although could not make the XI as pace dominated.

It wasn't always spin for Murphy. Growing up he bowled "very medium pace" before being encouraged to take up offspin on the advice of coach Craig Howard. "It's the best thing I've ever done," he said.

Murphy made his first-class at the end of 2020-21 season with his second match not coming until the end of the following summer where he seven wickets in the match against Tasmania and played a vital hand with the bat to secure victory.
ESPNcricinfo staff