Kerry O'Keeffe has called for two left-field selections for the upcoming Sydney Test, with the Australian side hammered with a growing injury toll.
Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green are both set to miss the clash after suffering finger injuries at the MCG, while experienced seamer Josh Hazlewood is still under an injury cloud due to a side strain.
The absences of Starc and Green will give the Aussie hierarchy plenty to think about, with head selector George Bailey facing some tough calls.
Mitchell Swepson has been the long-term No.2 spinner for the side behind Nathan Lyon, and finally made his Test debut earlier this year in Pakistan, while Ashton Agar is never far away from sneaking in the middle-order as an all-rounder.
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But according to O'Keeffe, who is regarded as one of the great minds in Australian cricket, the two names who should be at the top of the list would be relatively unknown to most casual cricket fans.
“If I was George Bailey – my bowling attack for Sydney would be [Pat] Cummins, [Scott] Boland, Aaron Hardie, Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy," he said on Fox Cricket.
"I would bring in Aaron Hardie for Cameron Green and I would bring in the second spinner on a Sydney Cricket Ground turner. The second-best spinner is also an off-spinner, so I would go with him [Murphy].
“I think Aaron Hardie is behind Cameron Green as an all-rounder, but I’ve watched him for some time and I think he is an outstanding talent.
"He bats like Cameron Green, very strong down the ground, and he bowls quality out-swing. He is in their sights I’m pretty sure and I think it would be a good like-for-like.
“Todd Murphy is the second-best spinner in the country. Will Australia go in with two off-spinners? I would, but they may not."
Hardie is averaging 44.57 with the bat including two centuries and has taken 41 wickets with the ball in 19 first-class matches to date, and in his early-20s is an exciting prospect for Australia.
Murphy is a young off-spinner with plenty of upside, and while he will likely have to bide his time to surpass Lyon, a potential audition for the India tour awaits him.
The 22-year-old has played just seven first-class matches for NSW, but has already taken 29 wickets at an impressive average of 25.20, with a handful of Big Bash games to his name as well.
Mark Waugh gave a nod to O'Keeffe for his suggestion, as well as raising the possibility of Alex Carey moving up one spot in the batting order.
“I don’t mind those options at all," he said.
"The other option would be that Alex Carey bats at No.6 – I think he is good enough – and Ashton Agar could come in at seven.
"Then you’ve got Lance Morris, who has been hanging around the squad and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is given a bit of a run in Sydney.
"There are lots of options there, depending on the pitch as well."
The potential exclusion of Swepson could raise a few eyebrows given he has been a long-term back-up to Lyon, especially with a massive five-Test series on Indian soil on the horizon in February and March.
But O'Keeffe believes that the Aussies need to be looking at a player like Murphy, who bowls off-spin as opposed to leg-spin, for such a vital period.
“I still think he lacks precision and going to India, you’ve got to take a precise spinner," he said.
"Todd Murphy is a precise spinner and I think he is ahead of him in my mind.
"It hurts me to promote a finger spinner over a wrist spinner."