Todd Murphy's big call on Test cricket return amid storm around Adam Zampa selection

Todd Murphy is confident he can lock down a spot in the Australian Test side if he is given another chance to impress. In 2022, Murphy - playing just his third first-class match - starred for Australia A, taking four wickets against Sri Lanka A in Hambantota.

The Victorian then earned his Test debut and didn't disappoint, starring with figures of 7-124 against India in Nagpur. In doing so he became the youngest Australian spinner to claim a five-wicket haul in his first start.

Murphy then went from strength to strength finishing the tour taking the prized wicket of Virat Kohli four times and that of Cheteshwar Pujara twice. Two more Test chances then came for Murphy in the 2023 Ashes when Nathan Lyon was out injured.

However, with just the one spot usually given to a spinner in Australia, Murphy has been forced to plug away at Shield level. But the 24-year-old sees next year's tour of Sri Lanka as a perfect opportunity to get back into the side alongside Lyon.

"When you look ahead at the schedule, and how good Nathan (Lyon) is and how consistent he is, you probably look at the overseas tours as potential opportunities," Murphy said on Wednesday. "Sri Lanka's there and, I think a couple of us guys that are bowling have been assured that we're going to get an opportunity and hopefully play a part for Australia."

Murphy has established himself as Australia's second top spinner but is far from the only option if Australia go with a dual-spin approach as expected against Sri Lanka. West Australian Corey Rocchiccioli has also had an impressive start to the summer, while Matt Kuhnemann can also offer the variety of a left-arm finger-spinner.

Todd Murphy feels back to his best after horror 2023/24 season

After starring in the Test side, Murphy endured a frustrating summer in 2023/24 due to a right shoulder niggle. While the injury was something he admits he will have to "manage" moving forward, the bowler revealed he is finally feeling back to his best. And his numbers back his claims up, with Murphy already picking up 18 first-class wickets at 27.27 this summer.

"Compared to this time, last year, it's in a hell of a lot better spot," he said. "I think that's been probably the most pleasing part about the start of the summer is I've been able to take some wickets in different conditions around Australia."

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Adam Zampa's dream of Test recall dealt fresh blow

Another man pushing for a spot on Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka is Adam Zampa. However, the spinner's chances have taken another hit after it was revealed the legspinner will miss NSW's next Sheffield Shield game. Zampa's inclusion in the Blues' side for last week's Shield game against Tasmania stoked controversy between the NSW hierarchy and Cricket Australia (CA).

NSW selector Stuart Clark claimed the Blues had been told by CA they mus pick Zampa for the Shield game against Tasmania, but CA denied that was the case. Zampa - an automatic white-ball selection for Australia - had been pushing for an unlikely berth in the Test squad to tour Sri Lanka in January-February next year.

But after taking 3-96 and 1-44 against Tasmania in the Blues' Shield loss last weekend, it was revealed that Zampa won't play for NSW in the four-day fixture against WA starting Friday. Zampa, who has yet to play a Test match, admitted last week that while he has Test aspirations it isn't something he feels is a must to achieve before he ends his career.

"I wouldn't say it's a total burning desire," he said of his Test ambitions," Zampa said. "It's something I'd like to do and challenge myself at.

"If I got to end my career and it didn't pan out that way, then I'd be OK with it. I might look back one day and feel like maybe I didn't give it a 100 per cent crack and I feel like playing these games and putting my hand up for the Sri Lanka tour and being keen for that is fine.

"But I've been in this position in the past where they've talked about three or four spinners going away but it hasn't gone my way and I've been disappointed about it. This time might be similar but I've dealt with it before so it's fine."

with AAP