Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody has raised concerns about the lack of bowling balance in the Australian team during the fourth Test of the Ashes 2023. He advocates for including young off-spinner Todd Murphy in the playing XI for the fifth and final Test match. Australia’s decision to go without a spinner in the previous Test backfired as England piled up a massive total, prompting calls for reevaluating the team’s bowling combination.
In the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Australia opted for a pace-heavy attack with three frontline pacers and two all-rounders, Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh. However, the absence of a specialist spinner was keenly felt as England amassed 592 runs in just 107.4 overs in their only innings. Tom Moody suggests that this lack of bowling balance may have contributed to Australia’s struggles and calls for including Todd Murphy to remedy the situation.
Tom Moody acknowledges that Todd Murphy is not an exact replacement for the seasoned spinner Nathan Lyon. Still, he emphasizes that Murphy’s abilities as a young and exciting off-spinner could add a different dimension to the Australian bowling attack. Comparing Murphy’s situation to Lyon’s early career, Moody highlights that every player needs to forge their path and that Murphy has shown promise in his young career thus far.
“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. Murphy needs to create his path and journey; he has started that already and 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 was nearly looking in the mirror all the time.” Murphy stated.
Moody suggests that Australia should opt for Mitchell Marsh as the sole all-rounder and drop Cameron Green to achieve a more balanced playing XI. Moody believes Marsh’s recent performances have made a strong case for his selection, providing the team with a genuine all-round option. While acknowledging Green’s potential and upside, Moody believes Marsh’s current form makes him the preferable choice for the upcoming Test.
“I think playing the two all-rounders 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. Very few players in the game’s history 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.” Murphy expressed.
Despite David Warner’s struggles in the Ashes series, Tom Moody believes Australia will likely retain the opening batsman for the fifth Test. Warner has had a disappointing run in the series, managing only one fifty-plus score in eight innings. However, the decision to play him at Old Trafford suggests that the team is committed to giving him a chance to find form, particularly given Australia’s lead in the series and the retention of the Ashes urn.
“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.” Murphy stated.
