Victoria yet to confirm whether Test spinner Todd Murphy will play Sheffield Shield final

Test spinner Todd Murphy should walk back into Victoria’s team for the Sheffield Shield final, but it’s not that clear cut.

Todd Murphy’s brilliant performance in India was enough to give Victorian captain Peter Handscomb no concern about picking the breakthrough spinner for a Sheffield Shield final at a ground he’s never played at.

But whether he gets the nod remains to be seen after Handscomb conceded the visitors were not locked in on their final team for the showdown with reigning champs Western Australia at the WACA that begins on Thursday.

Murphy took 14 wickets in four Tests in India, his first four Tests and first games in India, but would have to push out incumbent Jon Holland for the five-day showdown, having never played a game in Perth and on a wicket Handscomb expects will be more suited to the home team’s pace attack.

Holland has played seven of 10 matches this season, including last week in Perth, for a return of 12 wickets.

“Todd Murphy hadn’t played a game in India either and he still got picked and did well there,” Handscomb said on Wednesday.

“We are not fussed about whether guys have played here or not. We have a lot of talent in the squad.

“Whoever misses out who has been playing … it’s going to be tough. We’ve got that decision to make.

“Once we have a few conversations and see which way we want to go, we’ll finalise that.”

Jon Holland (left) celebrates a wicket. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

WA captain Sam Whiteman said it would be “brave” to overlook Murphy, but Holland was also a quality option having also worn a baggy green.

The Vics ride into the final with the momentum of five wins in a row, including four after the Big Bash break, the last coming over the defending champs in Perth last week.

Victorian coach, and former Test opener, Chris Rogers thought his young group’s arrival in a Shield final might have come a bit early, more so after going winless through the opening four matches.

Between them, batting rising stars Ashley Chandrasinghe and Campbell Kellaway have played just 14 Shield games. Will Sutherland, at 23, took over as captain in the absence of Handscomb and leads his team with 36 wickets, having also broken through for his maiden Shield 100.

Leading the bowling attack, at just 22 years of age, Mitch Perry has snared 29 wickets at an average of 22 this season and earnt an Australia A call-up.

Bowling revelation Fergus O’Neill has taken 26 wickets in his eight games in his debut season, including a match haul of 6-31 against South Australia at the MCG.

Handscomb said despite their inexperience, Victorian teams were never short on confidence.

“Generally speaking, as a Victorian team we have always had a bit of confidence and these young guys coming through are not short of confidence either,” he said.

“It’s good just rolling back in, I haven’t had to say too much. These guys are just running their show.”

Peter Handscomb is back for the Vics from India. Picture: Money Sharma / AFP

Handscomb also said there was a “little more incentive” to end WA’s domination, as they look to add a second-straight Shield crown to wins in the domestic one-day competition and the Perth Scorchers taking out the Big Bash.

The defending champs have also been boosted by the return of frontline seamers Lance Morris, who was part of the Australian Test squad in India, Joel Paris and Matt Kelly.

Between them, they have taken 78 wickets at an average of 17 this season, which makes them, on their home deck, about as imposing as it gets.

“I had the joy of facing (Morris) in the nets yesterday and got through unscathed,” Whiteman said.

“He’s bowling fast and after a month of bowling in the nets he’s raring to go.”

Originally published as Victoria yet to confirm whether Test spinner Todd Murphy will play Sheffield Shield final