Two seasons after being named the Tamworth junior representative player of the year on the back of a milestone season with the bat, Sam Murphy is emerging as a rising star with the ball for both South Tamworth and Tamworth.
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On Sunday the 16-year old is poised to open the bowling for the district side in their Connolly Cup clash with Narrabri Blue at No.1 Oval.
It will be his first time turning out for the senior rep side this season with his Tamworth under-17s playing Maitland their last game.
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"It will be good, (and) good to be bowling with the red ball," he said.
So far this season most of his cricket has been with the white ball.
He comes in boasting a pretty impressive strike rate. In all four games Murphy has played for the district side he has been among the wickets and one of their best performers with the ball.
It is one of the reasons Tamworth captain Travis Ling, who also plays alongside him at Souths and has seen the way he has stepped up there, has no hesitation throwing the youngster the new ball.
"His bowling over the last two seasons in the Connolly Cup and second grade last season has him poised to step into that role," Ling said.
Also praising his attitude, he said his bowling is just "getting better and better".
"Hopefully he gets us off to a good start with the ball, which he really has the ability to do," he said.
After playing a handful of first grade games for Souths last season, cementing a more regular spot was for Murphy a goal, and he said he was "pretty pumped" when Tom Groth told him he would be playing first grade.
Bowling predominantly first change he is pretty happy with how he has gone so far.
"I feel like I've been bowling alright," he said.
"No star or standout by any means but just bowling my line and length."
On Saturday he will face arguably his best test of the season, bowling to the two most in-form batters in the competition in Rixon brothers Brendan and Michael.
"It will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it," Murphy said.
It was a pretty quick turnaround between the winter and summer seasons for the teen.
One weekend he was lacing up the boots for the Moore Creek Mountain Goats, and the next charging in for Souths.
He has played soccer for the last 10 or so years as something to do during the off-season.
"Obviously soccer's not my priority like to cricket but it's good to have a run around and have a bit of a fun, and there's some good fellas over there (Mountain Goats)," he said.
Linking up with the club for their inaugural season last year, he was a regular for the first grade side this season.
TAMWORTH TEAM: Travis Ling (c), Kayne Shearman, Corey Sommers, Jack Hamilton, Callum
Henry, Max Keft-Gill, Killian Apen, Jason Livermore, Jaryd Stevens, Bradley Redshaw, Sam
Murphy, Zac Craig. 13th man - Nathan Mann
