With injury ravaging the Sydney Sixers’ spin department, a talented 21-year-old offie from Victoria was eyed as a potential replacement.
A call was made and Moama cricketing export Todd Murphy was added to the Sixers’ squad for his maiden stint in the Big Bash League to write the next chapter in his rise through Australian cricket.
Plying his trade for premier cricket side St Kilda, Murphy was plucked from the Victorian Premier Cricket competition and added to the Sixers in December before making his debut against Perth Scorchers on January 9.
“A couple of their spinners went down with injury and I was told there was a bit of interest in me going up there to fill those spots,” Murphy said.
“When it was confirmed, their list manager Michael Klinger called me and let me know they wanted me to join them.
“That was nice to know they were interested in me coming up there to join them and to go up there and play a role was something I was really pleased with.
“It was something that I was working on and was hoping would come up, so to get an opportunity with the Sydney Sixers was something I was rapt with.
“To go into a completely different environment that I hadn’t been a part of and get myself out of Victoria for a bit, I wasn’t 100 per cent sure how it would play out. But as soon as I got to Sydney, the environment up there was really good to be a part of.”
With three BBL outings under the belt, Murphy so far has a career economy of 5.11, with debut figures of 0-11 against the Perth Scorchers.
The wait for his maiden wicket wasn’t a long one, after the young off-spinner had Melbourne Renegades skipper Nic Maddinson stumped in Sydney’s 45-run win.
Murphy finished with 1-13 off three overs, the best figures of his short career.
“I was obviously nervous going into it, playing my first game or two,” Murphy said.
“As it went on I grew in confidence, I bowled more and more in the Sixers’ nets to guys, getting feedback from the batsmen on what works and what doesn’t.
“You pick up things along the way that builds your confidence. I just go out there and back in my skills and not put too much pressure on myself.
“I just wanted to enjoy it for what it was; whatever happened was a bonus from there.
“I was really pleased with the games I was able to play and it’s nice to know I can compete at the level and back my skills in.”
And in developing his craft, Murphy was living every young cricketer’s dream.
In a who’s-who of spinning prowess, Murphy had the knowledge and experience of Stephen O’Keefe, a renowned Australian spinner with experience in the Test arena, to lean on for the majority of the tournament, as well as experienced Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan.
And with the Ashes wrapped up, Sydney welcomed back the greatest of all time to the squad — Nathan Lyon.
Suddenly, Murphy was mixing it with the best in the business.
“It was pretty crazy; I don’t think you could ask for three better guys to learn off in T20 cricket,” Murphy said.
“Shadab Khan has been one of the best international T20 bowlers in recent times and Steve O’Keefe is just a genius at what he does.
“Nathan Lyon is someone I’ve always looked up to and aspired to be like, so to have him there for the back half was really cool.
“Steve I worked with the most and when Lyon came in that was really beneficial to me because we bowl similar off-spin.
“To be able to work with him, bowl with him in the nets and soak up that experience was invaluable.
“Just to tap into their tactical knowledge about the game of T20 cricket, which is different to the stuff I’ve played, to get their understandings of the game and how they go about it is probably the main thing I took away.”
The Sixers defied the odds and progressed to the final against the Scorchers, with victory marking what would have been a history-making three-peat.
And with COVID-19 and injury striking down members of the Sixers’ list, Murphy’s name was floated for a spot in the BBL 11 decider.
Instead, he watched on as Sydney was dismantled by a rampant Perth outfit at Marvel Stadium, but Murphy was full of praise for his teammates following a chaotic conclusion to the tournament.
“It was pretty crazy the week that we had, which was a bit unfortunate,” he said.
“We got hit at the wrong time with COVID-19 and injuries.
“It was an interesting one because there were a lot of guys doing fitness tests the morning of the game.
“From my point of view, it was always just making sure I was ready to go if I was called on.
“It was a little disappointing we couldn’t put our full-strength side on the park, but I think the boys that did play competed really well.
“It was a massive effort to make the final and I think that just shows the culture there is at the Sydney Sixers, that no matter what was happening the guys playing just stood up and got it done.”
With the BBL wrapped up, Murphy returns to Victoria with an eye on the red ball game and the back half of the Marsh one-day and Sheffield Shield seasons.
Murphy, with a sole appearance in the Shield squad to his name, said he was keen to build on last season’s debut with Victoria, but admits it’s a tough nut to crack with stalwart Jon Holland the favoured spinner at the present time.
At just 21, however, he’s in no rush to speed things along.
“There’s some one-day and Shield cricket coming up and I’m just hoping to be a part of something like that and just keep building on what I’ve worked on recently,” Murphy said.
“I’m still only young, so I know I’m not in a rush to make things happen. I’ll just keep trying to get better and hopefully set myself up in a few years’ time to really be a consistent part of the Victorian team.
“I’d love to be a part of the Shield going forward, but ... Jon Holland is the main spinner in the four-day game and I’ve got no problems with that because he’s exceptional at what he does.
“It’s just about biding my time and keep developing my game behind him.
“I’m hopeful in the one-day cricket I can get that opportunity again and keep pushing my case there.”