As soon as I type that… timber! 2/8 Marsh out.
Wanted: 1 spine. Please contact the Australian top order
Still not convinced by Shaun Marsh at test level. He's starting to do what he does at 1st class level. Looks great when he's in form but fails a lot. Big test for the Rickster at his home test.
Khawaja must be scratching his head as to why he got dropped for Marsh - at least UK looks like he is going to get some runs.
Marsh was very consistent to he got injured… you miss out in 1 and half tests and blokes call for your head!
He has got more consistent with age at first class level, and has now strung 3 very good first class seasons together, he has been very good in recent years in short term games for Australia and in the IPL, BBL etc.
3 tests ago he scored 100 on debut, he followed up with an excellent hard fought 80 under pressure, then in the innings that Clarke scored the lone hand 100, Marsh played the only other innings of substance, an hard fought 40, given the situation, it was worth much more. He got injured in the second innings.
He than gets fit hits an amazing 99 in a BBL game to get the nod.
batting is a fickle thing. even good players miss out, 3 innings (4 if you count the one when he batted at 10 injured) is nothing and does not warrent dropping a player that has been groomed for 3 seasons to come into the team.
Seems the pressure is now off Ponting and Hussey, and moves onto Marsh.
We are actually going ok in a lot of respects right now, winning in Sri Lanka and drawing in Sth Africa is pretty good, and we are going well against India.