Victorian out to build on his recent ODI squad call-up with a strong one-day series against India A
Off-spinner Todd Murphy hopes his time with Australia A in India will help convince selectors that he can be an all-format international player.
The 25-year-old was named in both ‘A’ squads set to play two four-day matches and three one-day games against India A in Puducherry across September and October.
The fixtures will give Murphy and fellow off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli a chance to show their credentials ahead of Australia’s five-Test tour of the subcontinent nation in January and February next year.
Having also been part of Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka last year and filled the role of Nathan Lyon’s understudy during his time on the sidelines in recent years, Murphy said the red-ball A matches would be crucial in acclimatising to Indian conditions as he eyes his second Test tour of the country.
Murphy has played all of his seven Tests for Australia overseas since receiving his Baggy Green in Nagpur in 2023, where he memorably claimed a seven-wicket haul on debut.
“Any opportunity to play in those conditions and hone your skills over there is really important,” he said at the launch of Play Cricket Month at Victoria’s Government House on Tuesday.
“That’s the goal of the (A) tours, to give us younger guys opportunities to go over there and become more familiar with the conditions and the environment.
“If you’re lucky enough to go on a Test tour, then that’s not the first time you’re seeing those conditions. I got plenty out of the one last year and hopefully can build on that again this year.”
While the offie’s last Test was the first of Australia’s 2-0 victory in Galle last year (he was overlooked for last summer’s Melbourne and Sydney Ashes Tests when Lyon was injured), the Victorian returned to Cricket Australia’s men’s contract list in April ahead of the side’s bumper 2026-27 red-ball calendar.
He also joined the Aussie squad’s training camp in Brisbane prior to their two-Test series against Bangladesh last month and said he feels at home in that environment.
“The more time you spend around the group, the more comfortable you feel,” Murphy added.
“When I first came in, I was quite raw and probably didn’t really understand how it all worked. You’re a little bit naive to it all. Now, spending more time with the guys and training with them and getting to play with them, when you do step into the environment, it feels really comfortable now.”
Murphy isn’t expected to be part of next month’s Test tour of South Africa with Lyon fit and seam-friendly pitches likely, and he’s instead focused on pushing his case with the white-ball for Australia A in India.
The St Kilda Cricket Club product earned his first ODI squad call-up in June when he travelled to Bangladesh. He didn’t play a game in Dhaka but impressed in Darwin on his return where he took seven wickets in five matches for the Victoria Academy in the Top End T20 series.
“I’ve definitely got ambitions of trying to develop my white-ball game,” said Murphy, who claimed 4-42 in his most recent ‘A’ one-day game against India last year.
“I want to be the best I can in each format; I really enjoy playing white-ball cricket. I feel like my skill set (is equipped for that format) as well, so any opportunity I get to push my case is awesome.”
Murphy is currently out-of-contract ahead of KFC BBL|16 but has been a part of the Sydney Sixers squad for the past five seasons. He’s attracted interest from other clubs after a league-wide contracting embargo was lifted last week, with his availability for the back end of the tournament to hinge on whether he’s selected in the Test squad to tour India.
Fellow Victorian spinner Michael Archer has scored a deal with Melbourne Renegades this season with the leggie taking a hat-trick while playing alongside Murphy in the Top End T20 tournament.
Australia A men’s tour of India 2026
1st four-day: Sep 22-25, Puducherry, 2pm AEST
2nd four-day: Sep 29-Oct 2, Puducherry, 2pm AEST
Australia A four-day squad: Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott
1st one-day: Oct 6, Puducherry, 3pm AEDT
2nd one-day: Oct 9, Puducherry, 3pm AEDT
3rd one-day: Oct 11, Puducherry, 3pm AEDT
Australia A one-day squad: Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw
