LIVE: Cummins’ call sees Aussies burn early review

Australian off-spinner Todd Murphy will tonight return to Australia’s line-up for the fifth and final Ashes test at The Oval in London.

The 22-year-old young gun is back to lead the tourists’ spin attack after his surprising omission at Old Trafford.

The decision to select Murphy will give the Australian line-up more versatility and flexibility, after being forced to bowl part-timers as an alternative to their pace-heavy attack without him in the Fourth Test. 

Cam Green is likely to be the man that drops out, with reports the all-rounder is warming up with fellow reserve Josh Inglis. 

No front-line spinner in Manchester meant that part-timer Travis Head in particular was exposed to an ultra-aggressive England batting line-up, who went on to hit the third-fastest score of 500+ in Test cricket history.  

Earlier this week, former Australian captain Tim Paine was supportive of a return to the XI for Murphy, citing the pitches traditionally made at The Oval would favour his style of bowling.

“As they [the pitches] wear, the spinner come into it; hopefully Murphy comes back into the side,” Paine told SEN. 

The wicketkeeper also praised the Echuca-born talent before his Ashes debut at Headingley, declaring he is ‘very, very good,’ and ‘won’t be knocked around,’ from what he had seen in their own personal battles at domestic level. 

Injured spinner Nathan Lyon’s record at The Oval has definitely done his prodigy’s recall no harm, with the London venue statistically his best ground to bowl at across his 16 matches in England. 

Murphy’s own bowling average of 26.80 from five Test matches has shown he has been more than up for the challenge at the top level, with his flawless seven-wicket haul on debut in Nagpur a testament to his craft. 

How captain Pat Cummins uses him in the Ashes series finale remains to be seen, given his little opportunity at Headingley only two Tests ago. 

Nonetheless, The Oval’s spinning nature later on in matches will provide for a fascinating storyline that could be the cherry on top for what has been an exceptional Ashes series.