He’s one of Glamorgan’s brightest young prospects, so what better way to further his development than a trip down under.

And sure enough, after experiencing games being ‘heated off’, coaching youngsters, watching an Ashes test match in a hospitality box, visiting the Gold Coast, and bowling against his brother, it’s fair to say Jack Murphy experienced quite the learning curve in Australia these past few months.

After a 2017 season which saw him play four times for The Dragons in the County Championship Division Two, the former Cresselly player travelled to Melbourne with teammate Jeremy Lawlor to represent Hampton CC in first grade cricket.

And as the 22-year-old re-iterated to Telegraph Sport, there are probably worse ways to spend a British winter.

“It was an awesome location,” he said.

“I opened the batting and managed to get a lot of runs under my belt, and managed to bowl about 70 overs in the 10 games I had there. It really tested my technical ability.”

The stats suggest it was a test he came through. Left hander Murphy struck two centuries as he averaged over 45 for the season, and took 15 wickets with the ball – albeit in a different format to what he was accustomed to.

“The pitch conditions were obviously different out there and it did take time to adapt and get used to things,” he admitted.

“What did feel strange was games being stretched out over two Saturday’s – so I only really got to bat once a week at the most.

“So when I had an opportunity to get in the middle I knew I had to take it. That helped me concentrate and made me want to bat for long periods.”

However, it wasn’t just the cricket that differed from back home. Whilst our own Welsh weather is notorious, Melbourne is a different kettle of fish all together. The term ‘four seasons in a day’ is more literal than you might think.

“We had games that were rained off and then games that were ‘heated’ off because the temperatures were too high. That was Melbourne for you – it was impossible to know what was going to happen.”

Thankfully, conditions were kind for one of the more surreal days of Murphy’s trip – playing against younger brother Tom. Like Jack, the 19-year-old who himself is on Glamorgan’s books, was over in Victoria further his cricket development with Carnegie CC.

Years of hurling down balls at each other in the garden as youngsters came to fruition in a slightly more hostile environment.

“I didn’t face him but had the chance to bowl a couple of overs at him. I hit him a couple of times but then went easy,” he joked.

Off the field, Murphy’s spare time didn’t go to waste. Aside from net sessions and helping tutor club juniors, the former Greenhill pupil squeezed in visits to the Gold Coast and Philip Island, and indulged himself in a hospitality box at the MCG for the fourth Ashes test between England and Australia.

Small wonder then that plans are already in place for a return to Hampton in late 2018.

“I feel I’ve returned home from Australia a better player and I’d definitely like to come back. I’ve already been offered a deal for next season where I can play for the club and work for a local company at the same time.

“After all – what’s the point staying back home in the freezing cold all winter?”

It’s hard to argue with that – but for now, Murphy’s focus will be on the English domestic season, and his ambitions to cement a place in Glamorgan’s First XI.

Having scored 57 against Lancashire for The Dragons in an exhibition match in Dubai, and come close to another half century against the same opposition in a pre-season friendly on home soil, it’s fair to say he’s on the right track.

And in a day and age where the influence of white ball cricket and T20 fireworks is ever growing, refreshingly, Murphy’s main desire centres around the longer format of the game.

 “I want to push for a place in red ball cricket and play as many first team games as possible. It’s about looking to bat for long periods and scoring a decent amount of runs.

“There are going to be spots up for grabs especially with Jacques (Rudolph) moving on and Colin Ingram not available for four day matches.”

The Dragons finished off their County Championship campaign in 2017 with a great win at Kent – and Murphy hopes that was a sign of things to come with a real buzz around the squad on the eve of the new season.

“We are now a young team and lot of boys have grown up playing together.

“But we still have experience and there is a good feeling about the place. We have always been a good white ball team but I think we can really push on in red ball cricket as well now.”

Whether they are capable of managing the latter will soon become a lot clearer with their first four games coming within the opening month of the season.

Of course, talking off the pitch is one thing, doing it when the heat is on is another.

But should he be called upon, it appears one of the most promising cricketers to emerge from Pembrokeshire in recent times is ready to stand up and be counted.

Jack was speaking to Telegraph Sport at Glamorgan’s media day at the Swalec Stadium last Tuesday, ahead of the side’s County Championship campaign that starts tomorrow with the county away to Gloucestershire. We wish both Jack and Glamorgan all the best for the season.