In a recent development, Australian management has revealed that it will be grooming an upcoming spinning prodigy to develop his craft and hone his skills.

Interestingly, the spin sensation is the same player whom veteran Indian journeyman Ravichandran Ashwin had earmarked as successor to spin maestro Nathan Lyon in the Australian set-up.

Australia has handpicked Todd Murphy to work closely with spin coach Daniel Vettori and has also named him in the 17-man Australia A squad that will take on India A ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Notably, Ashwin had said last year that Murphy was “between 10 and 50 times better” than Lyon when he first arrived in India in 2013.

Todd Murphy, who made his debut against India last year, took 14 wickets in four Tests and was only behind Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Lyon in the wicket-takers list in his first Test series.

Along with Murphy, Corey Rocchiccioli is also known to train with the New Zealand genius. Rocchiccioli was last summer’s leading wicket-taker for Sheffield Shield champions Western Australia.

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Todd Murphy will be groomed by Daniel Vettori

Interestingly, the duo of Murphy and Rocchiccioli will not bowl in tandem but will individually join the ODI team for the three-match series against Pakistan.

Murphy, who has made six Test appearances as understudy to Nathan Lyon, will first play the opening Australia A match in Mackay, while Rocchiccioli will be in Melbourne with the national team to gain insight from the former New Zealand great.

Those roles will then be reversed for Australia A’s second match at the MCG when Rocchiccioli joins the starting XI as Murphy heads to Adelaide for Pakistan’s second ODI, scheduled for November 8.

Speaking about the development, Australian national selection panel chairman George Bailey told cricket.com.au:

“While they won’t be formally joining the one-day squad, it’s an opportunity for those guys to spend some time with Dan Vettori. “It’s just a really positive opportunity to bring together two of our promising and powerful first-class cricketers with an excellent spin coach.”

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