What makes 22-year-old Todd Murphy special

I’ll look back at this feat for rest of my life and be proud of, says Todd Murphy

IMAGE: Todd Murphy celebrates after dismissing K S Bharat to complete his five-wicket haul. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Todd Murphy has had a ‘special’ couple of days and the bespectacled Australian Test debutant, who resembled more like a professor of history rather than practitioner of finger spin, couldn’t be happier for his five-wicket haul against India in the ongoing opening Test in Nagpur.

Murphy has so far picked up 5 for 82 in 36 overs in India’s first innings, with the wickets of KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in his kitty.

“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.

Murphy was all praise for the Indian batters and their ability to use their hands against spinners.

“I haven’t bowled to a lot of people from around the world but I think the Indian guys they 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 always a really difficult challenge there. And it was quite tough,” he said.

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, 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.

Murphy said his career changed when he toured Sri Lanka with the Australia A side last year.

“But one of the biggest things for me was getting to go to Sri Lanka and being on that A tour and having a little bit of success over that probably gave me the confidence I needed going back to Australia that I could mix it with first class cricketers.”

He got guidance from some of the players, who have already played international cricket and that helped him understand the requirements of the top level.

“Being around some of the guys who had played Test cricket, observing everything and competing in the nets and bowling to the Sri Lankans.”

“I took a lot of confidence out of that and reflected and went back, trusted myself a bit more and thought ‘what I’ve got can be good enough’ and believe in that,” Murphy said.