Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has asked Pat Cummins to show more belief in the veteran spinner Todd Murphy in the ongoing Ashes series. Taylor showed how Murphy got Ben Stokes’ wicket while playing his first Ashes Test at Headingley instead of the injured Nathan Lyon.

The former opener told the Sydney Morning Herald: “It’s very tough. I would’ve liked to see him bowl before lunch, and I don’t mean one over before lunch, I thought three or four before lunch when we got those couple of wickets and Ben Stokes came straight to the crease. I think you’ve got to bring your spinner in early to give them some belief that they’re in this, they’re part of the way we’re going to win the Test match. You saw what Pat did in the first innings by bowling him at the end, to Ben Stokes.”

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Taylor further added: “He got him out eventually. Yes, he hit him for a couple of sixes, but he nearly had him caught at long off when he was less than 50. So I think you’ve got to bring your slow bowler in to try to create opportunities.”

Mark Taylor also added that the tourists can drop Todd Murphy if Old Trafford offers another pace-friendly track and instead play two all-rounders as well.

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He concluded: “It was a low scoring game, no score over 260-odd for the game, which makes it harder for your slow bowlers. So whether or not Australia are going to need him for Old Trafford could depend on the pitch. If we get something similar [to Headingley] and Australia aren’t going to use him, I think he’s only bowled nine overs for the game, Australia can think about playing two all-rounders.”