Todd Murphy looks set to play in the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG after he was named as Australia's replacement for the injured Nathan Lyon in their 15-man squad. Jhye Richardson is also in contention to play his first Test in four years, with Pat Cummins's anticipated absence confirmed as he continues to manage his back injury.
Lyon, who turned 38 last month, tore his right hamstring while fielding on the final day of Australia's 82-run win at Adelaide Oval and Cricket Australia confirmed that he will be sidelined for "an extended period" after undergoing surgery, having seen a specialist in Melbourne on Monday.
Murphy, the 25-year-old offspinner, has been chosen as his replacement ahead of CA-contracted Matthew Kuhnemann, leading Shield offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli and four-Test veteran legspinner Mitchell Swepson.
Murphy has taken 22 wickets at 28.13 in his seven Tests to date - all of them away from home - and has taken six wickets at 25.33 in his three Sheffield Shield games at the MCG for Victoria.
If he plays in Melbourne it will be the first time Australia have selected a lone specialist spinner at home who isn't Lyon in 14 years.
Murphy replaced Lyon during the 2023 Ashes, playing at Headingley and The Oval as Australia's sole spinner. He was part of a three-man spin attack alongside Lyon and Kuhnemann in his most recent Test in Galle earlier this year, but was left out of the second Test at the same venue when Australia opted for some extra batting and part-time spin from Cooper Connolly, with Kuhnemann's left-arm orthodox preferred as the best tandem option with Lyon.
However, in home conditions Kuhnemann is not seen as Lyon's clear understudy with left-arm orthodox traditionally having little impact in Australia. Murphy has bowled well this year after a difficult Shield season last season due to a shoulder issue.
He has 10 wickets at 23.70, striking at 55.80, but has not bowled a lot due to the dominance of Victoria's seamers. He was selected ahead of Rocchiccioli for the Australia A game in the recent game against England Lions in Brisbane where he took three wickets.
Rocchiccioli, 28, can count himself unlucky having been the leading spinner in Shield cricket in recent years with his extra height and bounce proving a handful for Shield batters on his home ground at the WACA. He has 20 wickets at 28.20 so far this summer, striking at 53.30 after taking 38 at 27.71 last season.
He has played two games at the MCG including for Australia A against India A last year and against Victoria last month, taking eight wickets at 23.50. Rocchiccioli only took three in the recent game against Victoria, with the home side's spin-bowling allrounder Matt Short taking a match-winning 4 for 57 in the third innings while Murphy was away on Australia A duty.
MCG curator Matt Page said spin would play a role in the Test as it did in the Shield game last month and when Lyon and Travis Head took key wickets on the final day in the win over India.
"We had a great Shield game here," Page said. "We obviously had some really challenging weather leading to that. I think the pitch sat under covers for three days. It was really cool, which is not ideal for pitch prep. But the pitch did everything that we wanted it to. I think we had two fast bowlers get five-fors, a couple of guys got hundreds, and Matt Short got four in the [third] innings.
"So for us, it's about trying to give everyone a chance in the game at certain points. The Shield pitch has done that. I guess that gives us good confidence, leading into this."
Cummins flagged after Australia's series-clinching win in Adelaide that he was unlikely to feature at the MCG, and CA said that he would rest "as part of his ongoing management plan". Steven Smith will return as captain, having missed the third Test through illness, and Australia have a decision to make as to which batter drops out of their XI.
Usman Khawaja made the most of his last-minute recall with scores of 82 and 40 in the third Test while Josh Inglis hasn't fully taken his opportunity at No. 7.
Cummins' absence means there is at least one vacancy in Australia's seam attack, which will be filled by Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser or Richardson, who is named in a Test squad for the first time in a year. He has recently returned from shoulder surgery and is in the mix to play his fourth Test.
Australia squad: Steven Smith (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.