Todd Murphy has emerged as the frontrunner to head Australia’s spin attack at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the fifth Ashes Test in 2025-26, which begins on Sunday, January 4. However, English opener Zak Crawley is unconcerned, stating that the visitors will continue to their cherished Bazball technique in a tournament where they play for pride and nothing else, having already lost the series.
In an interview with reporters before of the New Year’s Test, Crawley reaffirmed that England follows a consistent playing philosophy regardless of the outcome,
and they have no intentions to change that ahead of the SCG match. Thus, having Todd Murphy, or any other bowler for that matter, does not imply that the Englishmen want to play with a new approach.
“Whoever plays, I think that’s the mantra of our team, is to try to put pressure on people. Todd’s a very good bowler, but I can envisage us trying to put some pressure on him, like we would all their bowlers. That’s going to come with some risks, and if it’s turning it, it’s definitely going to be a threat,” Crawley was quoted as saying by.
For the unversed, Murphy has come to the fore since Nathan Lyon was ruled out of the Ashes with a hamstring injury during the third Test at the Adelaide Oval. He could not take further part in the match after pulling his hamstring early on Day 2, and has been subsequently ruled out of cricket for an indefinite, but a prolonged period.
Murphy will look to make a mark in the final match of the series, since he has all the freedom in the world to express himself, with the Aussies already 3-1 up. England, on the other hand, will be looking to take down the charge against the off-spinner, making it a mouthwatering contest between the two in an epic series finale.
England squad for 5th Ashes Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
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