Returning to the Test arena for the first time since mid-2023, Murphy’s first game back was quieter than he would’ve hoped for.
Australia dominated the match, winning by an innings and 242 runs inside four days, in large part due to its mammoth first innings total powered by a maiden double century to Usman Khawaja (232) and centuries to stand-in captain Steve Smith (141) and debutant Josh Inglis (102).
Australia enforced the follow on after bowling Sri Lanka out for 165 in its first innings, giving Murphy two cracks at snagging wickets.
The 24-year-old seemed to have been slotted in as the third-string spinner behind veteran Nathan Lyon and left-arm orthodox bowler Matthew Kuhnemann, who took seven and nine wickets for the match, respectively.
Murphy only bowled six of the 52 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings, recording figures of 0-28. He was the most expensive Aussie bowler and the only one not to take a wicket.
However, he was still able to contribute in the field, hanging on to a Kusal Mendis shot off Kuhnemann’s bowling, dismissing the Sri Lankan wicket keeper for 21.
Murphy managed to find his groove in the second innings, with skipper Steve Smith giving him 11 overs, where he finished with 1-57.
His sole wicket for the match was opener Dimuth Karunaratne, bowling him for a duck.
The young off-spinner will be hungry for a bigger contribution in the second Test match in Galle, which kicks off on Thursday, February 6.
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