Spin bowling has only claimed nine wickets this Ashes series. Todd Murphy still thinks it has a role

SCG: Before the Boxing Day Test, the topic of how many millimetres of grass is on a pitch would rarely rate a mention in the cricket world.

But following the two-day chaos at the MCG, all eyes will be on the SCG surface and it's offerings.

Three days out from the Sydney Test, there's a definite green tinge to the pitch with the heavy roller applied to it after morning rainfall.

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"Looks like a bit of grass on it at the moment," spinner Todd Murphy told media on Thursday.

Traditionally during the days of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, the SCG would offer a lot for spinners.

But with Nathan Lyon out and the days of the SCG being a spin bowler's paradise long in the rear vision mirror, Murphy will wonder whether he'll finally play his first Test on home soil.

Murphy was put up for media on Thursday, indicating his selection is likely but all will depend on how the pitch looks either a day out from proceedings or before the toss.

In days gone by, the thought of Australia not playing a spinner for three Ashes Tests out of five doesn't even register.

But now that's likely.

Only nine wickets across the first four Tests have been taken by spinners with five to Nathan Lyon and four to Will Jacks.

Travis Head and Joe Root have both rolled the arm over to no success.

Murphy explained that four-day cricket in Sheffield Shield may have a lot to do with its decline.

"Shield cricket over the last few years has evolved to be more seam friendly as well. I think that comes from the importance of results in four-day cricket and spin doesn't break up enough in four days so they've probably gone down the path to make it speed up at the start of the game," he said.

"But I still think you look across all games and spin still plays a massive part in games, so there's always a role there to play. It might just not be the day four and bowl 30 overs and spin your team to victory but it still feels like you've always got a part to play in the game.

"... You look at Adelaide as well and there was a massive part to play for spin bowling. It still definitely has its place.

"You got to Melbourne last week and the weather doesn't work out for what Pagey (MCG curator Matt Page) was trying to do and presents where spin doesn't play a role.

"Perth was such a shortened game as well so I don't think you got into a series planning that spin wouldn't play a role, I think that's just how it's eventuated.

"I still think there's a role to play for spin, I think it will evolve from year to year. Next year it could be completely different."

While Murphy's spot is up in the air, what might work in his favour is the workload of Australia's quicks.

Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have played all four Tests, and sent down over 100 overs each.

Jhye Richardson's condition will also be a big watch if selected, too, considering he hadn't played a Test in four years until the MCG. Richardson only bowled 9.2 overs at the MCG due to the two-day Test.

Murphy knows there's likely to be more to his role than just taking wickets.

"I think I've learnt in Shield cricket, you're not going to be thrown the ball and your role is to take wickets, it might be to play a holding role so they can have a break and then come back," he said.

"I think you've got to find ways to still be effective out there and still be able to play a role for what the team needs."