The spinner was on the receiving end of Stokes' ire after lunch on day two, spilling a tricky caught and bowled opportunity before being smacked for five sixes as his figures ballooned from 0 for 5 after five overs to 1 for 36 from 7.3
Todd Murphy has praised Ben Stokes' destructive batting post-lunch on day two of the third Ashes Test, stating it is a "challenge" to bowl to the England skipper when he's "in that sort of mood".
However, despite his baptism of fire on his Ashes debut, Murphy is relishing the battles with England's batters and believes he can have a big role in deciding the outcome of this match.
Coming into Australia's XI for the third Test in place of the injured Nathan Lyon, Murphy bowled a tidy four-over spell before lunch on day two but soon found himself on the receiving end of the England skipper's ire.
The 22-year-old spilled a tricky caught and bowled opportunity immediately following his reintroduction to the attack and was subsequently punished by Stokes, who scored all five of his sixes against the spinner.
Murphy eventually had the last laugh, collecting his maiden Ashes wicket when Stokes holed out to long-on on 80 (108), but by this point, Australia's lead had been cut to 26 and his figures had ballooned from 0 for 5 after five overs to 1 for 36 from 7.3 overs.
Ben Stokes struck Murphy for five sixes [Stu Forster/Getty Images]
Moeen Ali's success on day two has given Murphy hope he can add to his wicket haul [Stu Forster/Getty Images]
"They're situations that any cricketer wants to be involved in," Murphy told Sky Sports. "[Pat Cummins and I] had a conversation at lunch, and he said they'd start with the quicks but pretty soon after I'd come into the game.
"To bowl to Ben in that sort of mood was definitely challenging. You knew what to expect – he was trying to hit every ball for six, so it was a challenge. I probably cost myself there as well with the dropped catch, so things could have been different.
"He got hold of a couple, but it was nice to get [his wicket] at the end.
"The senior guys have always been really good with coming up to me with ideas but not trying to throw too much at me and let me do my thing. It was just about trying to mix it up, get him out of his rhythm and take it out of his swinging arc."
After watching Moeen Ali dismiss Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith late on day two, Murphy is confident he can add to his Ashes wicket haul in the second innings.
"As a spinner, as the game progresses, your role is going to change. It was to see a little bit on offer yesterday [but] disappointing to see him get wickets from our point of view. It is nice to know spin can play a part in this."
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