Murphy impressed in multiple aspects during the mixed format tour, leading his country on the pitch in the unofficial two Test series and showing his leadership skills in the unofficial ODIs.
Australia A took on India A in a two unofficial Test matches, so named because the official format, with the accompanying caps and statistics, is reserved for the nation’s first-string sides.
Both matches were played at the Pondicherry Siechem Ground in Puducherry, India in late September, and while Australia would go down in the two-match series 1-0, the local spin wizard shone with the ball throughout.
Murphy’s 10 wickets were the most by an Australian in the series, and his seven in game one, comprising 3-77 and 4-48 in each inning, kept the Indians within reach, although the Aussies would fall 162 runs short of the fourth innings target.
Australia was just a wicket short of levelling the series in the second, with Murphy contributing three wickets across the match and a handy 33 runs with the bat in the first innings.
A three-match unofficial ODI series followed in Puducherry, and the Moama man got the opportunity to show his leadership chops, captaining his country in the final match.
Australia would win the series 2-1.
Murphy’s return to the Sheffield Shield began with him taking 1-32 in the first innings against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval.
The off-spinner will be hoping to get the call to join the Australian Test squad over the summer, the team currently in South Africa for a three-match series.
The Aussies will play four tests at home against New Zealand in December and early January, before heading to India for a five-match tour.
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