Australia coach Justin Langer considering recalling Mitch Marsh for Boxing Day Test

Australian coach Justin Langer faces a Christmas Day dilemma with all-rounder Mitch Marsh firming as an inclusion for the Boxing Day Test due to conditions in Melbourne.

Justin Langer is considering picking Mitch Marsh for the Boxing Day Test.

Australian coach Justin Langer faces a Christmas Day dilemma with all-rounder Mitch Marsh firming as an inclusion for the Boxing Day Test.

That would mean delivering some devastating news to hometown hero Peter Handscomb as well as breaking up the winning combination from the second Test in Perth which has seized the momentum in a series locked 1-1 with India.

Fears of another flat wicket, plus expected high temperatures, could play in Marsh’s favour. But Langer conceded the dilemma was keeping him up at night.

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Australia's cricket coach Justin Langer admits the decision is keeping him up at night.

“In a perfectly balanced side you have someone who can bowl some overs so Mitch becomes an attractive commodity on a wicket, unlike Adelaide and Perth were we knew it would be an even contest, that although there’s some grass and moisture we also know the history of it,” Langer said after putting the Aussies through a solid training session at the MCG.

“Our fast bowlers have been lucky, they have bowled less overs than the Indians at the moment, particularly Bumrah, and the more we can look after those guys the better. It will come down to that decision.

“They are the hard decisions. You generally talk about one position and they are the ones that give you the most headaches.

Mitch Marsh’s potential inclusion would come at the expense of Peter Handscomb.

“You have to tell someone they’re not playing which is tough and tell someone they are, it’s a nice Christmas present. I spend my life thinking about all those things, it’s a bit sad, not what Christmas presents I buy for by kids but who plays spin better, whether we play the extra bowler.”

Langer and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns kept a close eye on Handscomb during a long net session which included facing repeat balls from the Aussie quicks Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins.

Talk that India could potentially play two spinners at the MCG, after failing to play one in Perth, could also impact the decision on who gets the nod for Australia.

“We weigh up all those things. Pete’s a very good player of spin bowling, Mitch is a pretty good player of spin too,” Langer said.

Australian Players inspect the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The players talked about the mental toll of being under a selection cloud, and Langer said they had to have the “courage” to block out the outside noise.

“There’s so much noise, so much opinion, but we have to keep trusting the path we are on whether it’s the individual players or the group,” he said.

“We know there’s lots of criticism, that’s okay, it’s hard but it’s part of the business. Takes great strength and courage to eliminate it and perform.”

A final decision on the eleven is expected within 24 hours.

The Aussies spent Christmas Eve training at the MCG.

Langer also encouraged MCG curator Matt Page to keep the pitch as green as it was, and said lively pitches like the one in Perth were the best way for Test cricket to survive.

“It’s great to see some grass. I’ve played Shield cricket here over last six or seven years, seen the Test here, and I’ve said forever the most important thing in Test cricket — international cricket — are the pitches,” Langer said.

“If you get great pitches you’ll have contest between bat and ball, then Test cricket will be alive and well. If we play on flat wickets then it becomes a really boring game and that’s from someone who loves Test cricket.

“Hopefully it’s a contest between bat and ball because it’s really important, not just for this series but also for world cricket.”

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Originally published as Australia coach Justin Langer considering recalling Mitch Marsh for Boxing Day Test