Who removed my spinner?

Rumors suggest the Richie Benaud statue near the Ladies Stand left the SCG around 10 am on Sunday, shortly after Steve Smith announced Australia's sole change for the final Ashes Test—excluding Todd Murphy. This marks the first Australian Test XI at the Sydney Cricket Ground without a spinner since 1888.

An unthinkable outcome at a venue long considered Australia's spinner's haven, where captains historically fielded two specialist spinners and have faced questions for not doing so more often in recent decades. Breaking this 138-year streak is staggering, highlighting spin's dwindling impact in Australia.

Last year, Nathan Lyon bowled his fewest deliveries in a Test summer during the Border Gavaskar Trophy, and spin numbers have dropped even more dramatically this Ashes series. Currently, 24 overs of spin are needed to avoid the record for fewest spinner deliveries in a five-match series—a tall order with England sticking with spinning all-rounder Will Jacks over specialist Shoaib Bashir.

Australia ensured a spinner addressed the media after Day 1 of the Sydney Test, with former New Zealand captain and Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori discussing Murphy's omission and the lack of spin in the series.

"Over the last couple of years, Nathan Lyon's involvement in certain Test matches has been reduced. The wickets have been conducive to seam bowling, and the seamers have been so effective that it's hard to go away from them. It just feels like they're the ones that are going to be in the game most of the time, and the spinners haven't been able to get into the games on these types of surfaces," Vettori said.

He insisted this plight is unlikely to persist long-term, expecting spinners to return to prominence. "I don't think it's going to continue for years on end. Spin bowling is incredibly important to Test match cricket. People love watching it at its best when conditions assist. We're just in a stage now where that's not the case."

With Lyon out post-surgery, selectors backed Murphy as his replacement, but the Victorian missed both Tests. While Smith called it a tough decision, Vettori noted Murphy's improvement since losing his spot in Sri Lanka nearly a year ago.

"You've seen Todd through the A Series and with Victoria that he's bowling exceptionally well. He possibly wasn't at his best but since then I think he's got his shoulder right, he's been fully fit and the bowler that presented in these last two games has been the bowler we first saw in India. I think he's ready, he's bowling exceptionally well, but it's tough to see him getting into the game when conditions suit seam bowling," Vettori said.

Concerns exist about green surfaces affecting emerging spinners, but Vettori dismissed them. "That's part of the growth as a spinner. First-class cricket often doesn't offer long spells or suitable surfaces, so A tours and overseas tours are crucial. When the time comes, there will be chances for these guys to develop their craft over long, hard days, and they'll be ready."

Murphy and others hope those opportunities arrive next summer at the SCG, as does the Benaud statue.