India vs Australia: Why is Todd Murphy more effective than Nathan Lyon in Nagpur? Experts explain

While experienced Lyon was considered the major threat for India, many are wondering how he is lagging behind a player 13 years junior to him in international cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah likely to miss the whole of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Murphy more impactful in Nagpur

In the words of India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who is on commentating duty, for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Murphy has natural variations and it’s the same reason why an India pitch is suiting him.

“Murphy has produced more opportunities than Lyon. This pitch suits him because of the natural variations he has,” Karthik said while commentating on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match.

Former India batter and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar also praised the Victoria-born cricketer. He said Murphy has made more difference than Lyon who is the eighth-highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket.

“Murphy has made more of a difference than his senior,” said Manjrekar.

Australian great Matthew Hayden reckoned that Murphy bowls with a sideline angle which creates doubts in the minds of the batters.

“Murphy bowls with a lot more sideline and that seems to be working on this surface, making it a little more uncertain for the batsmen,” said Hayden.

Murphy rattles India top-order in Nagpur

Murphy, who had played only seven first-class matches before coming into the Nagpur Test, dismissed KL Rahul in the penultimate over of Day 1. Caught in two minds, Rahul ended up returning an easy catch to Murphy.

On Day 2, he broke a 42-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin by trapping him in front of the stumps. Later, he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara who ended up giving an easy catch to Scott Boland at short fine leg.

The biggest scalp for Murphy came on the first ball after lunch when Virat Kohli was lured to chase a ball drifting towards leg. The faint knick landed in the hands of wicket-keeper Alex Carey.

The youngster is just a wicket away from picking a five-wicket haul in his debut innings. Questions were raised on his selection over Ashton Agar, but he had done quite a job to justify his inclusion in the eleven of the series opener.