There were more runs and more wickets in the 1951–52 season, but no more centuries or five-wicket innings hauls. But at the end of the South African domestic season he was selected for the match between J. E. Cheetham's XI and D. J. McGlew's XI which was used by the South African Test selectors to pick the team to tour Australia and New Zealand the following winter. The first two days of the match were lost to rain, but Murray then took four wickets for 36 runs, the best bowling figures of the match, to win a place on the tour.
