Todd Murphy is ready to step into the Ashes cauldron at Headingley to replace injured Nathan Lyon

Todd Murphy was preparing for a gentle introduction into county cricket in the next few days – but is now set to enter the Ashes cauldron of Headingley instead.

Series-ending injury to Australia’s number one spinner Nathan Lyon means that Murphy, 22, will be plunged into the most tempestuous of Test series on Thursday.

And events of recent weeks suggest the New South Welshman was fated to play against England in Leeds.

Australia had formed an elaborate plan to get Murphy his first action in British conditions.

As touring team players are not permitted to work here outside of their international duties, it involved him heading into Europe for 48 hours between first and second Test matches to acquire a different visa that would allow him to feature for Durham against Gloucestershire next week.

Todd Murphy said he’s ready to step into the Ashes cauldron at Headingley on Thursday

Murphy will replace the injured Nathan Lyon  (left) who has been ruled out of the series

But recent unrest in France meant airlines drastically reduced their schedules, aborting Murphy’s whistle-stop trip alongside Australia batting coach Michael Di Venuto in the process.

‘We had a two-day trip to Paris booked, and I was quite excited by it, but we got to the airport and the flight got cancelled so it didn’t quite work out,’ Murphy explained.

A deal to play for Durham in early season was scrapped after Murphy unexpectedly played four Tests in India earlier this year – dismissing Virat Kohli four times.

‘Post India, I needed to have a spell to make sure if something like this did come up and there was a chance I was going to be needed towards the back end of an Ashes, I was fresh,’ he added.

Now, following the souring of relations between the Ashes rivals on Sunday at Lord’s, he is braced for a very different atmosphere to anything he has experienced in a first-class career of just 12 matches.

‘This might be a bit different to the Indian crowds,’ Murphy said. 

‘They made a lot of noise but were all quite friendly.

Murphy dismissed Virat Kohli as he made his Test debut in the series against India this year

‘From speaking to the boys, this is probably the most hostile ground you get in England.

‘I’m quite looking forward to it if I do get the opportunity, because I have grown up watching Ashes cricket and love what the Barmy Army bring to the game.

‘It’s going to be different and I’m sure they won’t hold back, so I will just embrace it and try to have a good time.’