Indian guys they use their hands really well, reckons debutant Todd Murphy

NEW DELHI: It’s a dream debut for Australia’s Todd Murphy who claimed a five-wicket haul against India in the opening Test at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Friday.Murphy, who has so far picked up 5 for 82 in 36 overs, reckoned Indian batters use their hands quite well against the spinners and it gives them a lot of scoring options too.”It’s been a pretty special couple of days and to top it off with a five-wicket haul on debut is more than I ever hope for and it is going to be something that I’ll look back on for the rest of my life and be proud of,” Murphy said at the end of the second day’s play.”I haven’t bowled to a lot of people from around the world but I think the Indian guys use their hands really well. They get their hands out in front of their pads and they have got a lot of scoring options too. So it is always a really difficult challenge there. And it was quite tough,” Murphy added.The 22-year-old off-spinner struck four times on Day 2 to check India’s surge after skipper Rohit Sharma hit 120 for the hosts.Murphy, who claimed KL Rahul as his first Test wicket, trapped R Ashwin lbw and got Cheteshwar Pujara caught at short fine leg in the first session on Day 2.Murphy stood out for the tourists with remarkable control to knock off the stalwarts of Indian cricket including Virat Kohli, caught behind for 12.The Victoria-born Murphy bagged his fifth as he trapped fellow debutant Srikar Bharat lbw — a decision that was given not out by the umpire but successfully reviewed by Australia.Murphy started out as a medium pacer but later found off-breaks to be his calling card.”I think in all honesty my medium pace wasn’t really any good anyway, so it sort of just came a time where I was tinkering in the nets with off-spin bowling and yeah, got some really good feedback that what was coming out of my hand was alright.”So, I just went from there and kept working at it and it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done. So thankful I have,” he said.It has been one hell of a journey for Murphy, who wasn’t even playing first-class cricket a year back and now has five-for in Tests to boast of.”I think this time last year I was still not in the state side so it sort of has been quite quick progress,” he admitted.