Ashes 2023: I tend to disagree – Steve Waugh on Australia’s decision to not play Todd Murphy in Manchester Test

Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh was not impressed with the visitor’s tactics of not playing a spinner in the ongoing fourth Ashes Test match against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. Australia decided to drop rookie spinner Todd Murphy and played their both seam-bowling all-rounders – Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green.

Murphy didn’t have a great outing in the third Test match as he could only scalp a solitary wicket and he was taken apart by England skipper Ben Stokes in the first innings. Furthermore, Murphy bowled only two overs in the second essay when Australia were defending 251.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh was able to grab his opportunity with both hands as he scored a run-a-ball 118 in the first innings to help Australia post 263 runs on the board in the third Test. The right-hander added a fine alliance of 155 runs with Travis Head before Australia veered off the track to lose six wickets for 23 runs.

The all-rounder then scored 28 runs in the second essay and also accounted for Zak Crawley in both innings.

On the other hand, Cameron Green had scalped three wickets in the first two Test matches and could only score 84 runs. Ergo, he hasn’t been able to deliver with either bat or ball.

Waugh reckons the Manchester pitch will provide assistance to the spinners and Australia will miss variety in their bowling attack.

Steve Waugh said on SEN Radio, “I tend to disagree with it. I think it’s a mistake, particularly in Manchester where the ball does turn. I know they’re probably looking at the forecast and saying there’s a bit of rain around, but you do need variation in the attack. Particularly with the way England plays. They go at the bowlers really hard and we’ve got four right-arm quick bowlers so there’s a bit of sameness about our attack.”

Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne reckons the Old Trafford pitch won’t offer a lot of spin as the match will progress. England all-rounder Moeen Ali accounted for Labuschagne’s wicket on the opening day at Manchester on Wednesday.

Labuschagne said as quoted by nine.com.au, “I think it’s one of those wickets where I think because the wicket’s been undercover for a few days, it didn’t have that really rock hardness and the catchiness of the grass (helped) spinning, so I think once that wears off, I think the middle of the wicket is going to actually not spin so much.”

Labuschagne was dismissed after scoring 51 runs, which was his 16th Test fifty. Australia was 299-8 at stumps on the opening day after Ben Stokes decided to bowl first.