Those scalps have taken time too – almost 93 balls, or more than 15 overs each – making the SCG the nation’s toughest Test venue for slow bowlers.
For comparison, fast bowlers have taken 108 wickets at the SCG since the 2021 Australia-India Test at an average of 27.72.
How much help can Todd Murphy expect from the SCG pitch?Credit: Getty Images
None of Australia’s Test grounds have been particularly helpful to spinners during the past five years, but nowhere does the gap between spin and fast-bowling averages (almost 22 runs a wicket) come close to the SCG.
Since hosting the first of 113 Tests in 1882, the spin bowling average of 33.21 is the lowest of all Australia’s regular Test venues (spinners average a combined 31.82 at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval).
Sydney’s infamous inclement weather has played its part in six of the past 11 SCG Tests ending in draws, and hampered the pitch’s deterioration to spin-friendly conditions.
That said, last year’s pitch was described by Australia and NSW great Mark Waugh as the greenest he had ever seen in Sydney, with Lyon, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar bowling just 10 overs for the Test between them.
Australia will have their first training session in Sydney on Thursday, with McDonald pointing towards Murphy playing his first Test on home soil earlier this week.
“I’d love to pick Todd. I’d love to see what he’s got to offer,” McDonald said.
“Seven Test matches into his career, he’s well-placed on the back of the last two years as well.
“We talked about Sammy [Konstas] before having a little dip in terms of the batting space – young spinners do have that as well.
“[Murphy] had some issues with his shoulder, and we think he’s back to his best.”
A heftier workload looms for the Victorian than has been required by spinners during this Ashes series, which is on track to feature the least amount of slow bowling this century.
Figures compiled by cricket.com.au show an average of just 261 balls (or 43.4 overs) of spin being bowled each Test this summer, with Lyon’s five wickets in Adelaide the only occasion spin has truly influenced a contest.
Two Sheffield Shield matches at the SCG this summer present food for thought as well.
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Murphy bowled just 12 overs (taking 2-31) for Victoria in their 300-run thrashing of NSW in November. However, Lyon churned through 51.1 overs (6-134) on the same pitch that Mitchell Starc labelled “docile” before the Blues were knocked over for two scores of less than 130.
NSW leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha also only bowled 14 overs (3-39) in the first week of December, but Queensland counterpart Mitch Swepson ground out 36 first-innings overs in the home side’s 7-471.
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