Robert Craddock believes Nic Maddinson, not Matt Renshaw, should make way for Shaun Marsh

SOME experienced voices have called for Shaun Marsh to replace promising opener Matt Renshaw in the Test team. Robert Craddock would go in a different direction.

Matt Renshaw made a huge statement in his Test debut.

SHAUN Marsh has become the nowhere man stuck between Australia’s tortured recent past and their potentially bright future.

Steve Smith has finally found an XI he is happy with and wants to keep the bulk of them by his side for the next five to 10 years.

So Marsh becomes the big issue – after a fluky past can he provide a bankable future?

Some experienced voices such as Michael Slater would send Matt Renshaw back to bake in the oven of Sheffield Shield cricket and promote Marsh into the starting XI when he has fully recovered from a finger injury.

I’d go a different direction.

Shaun Marsh deserves one last chance.

Nic Maddinson, who made a duck in his sole Test appearance in Adelaide, would be my choice to make way for Marsh.

Renshaw’s defiant 34 not out against South Africa may have been slow fused but a week earlier he was clubbing five sixes in a Sheffield Shield innings at the Gabba including one over the head of a fieldsman on the fence.

He has extra gears which in time will come into view in Tests and his smiling demeanour during his Test debut stunned players like Usman Khawaja who expected him to be much more tense.

Like nearly every young Test batsmen Renshaw will be dropped at times but after an encouraging debut this is the moment to keep the engine running.

Australia does not owe Marsh much, but it does owe him one last chance.

If you debated his cause, the negative side would say he has been floating around first-class cricket for 16 years without proving himself a gilt-edged Test player so at age 33 he is not going to improve.

Maddinson was bowled for a 12-ball duck on debut.

The case for Marsh says that he has had four good Tests in a row and when Australia tours India for four Tests in February-March it is going to need a player of his subcontinental experience and prowess.

Marsh is an unusual player, a very shy character who sometimes seems more assured batting away from the searing spotlight of Australia’s domestic summer.

You could argue his subdued demeanour does not match the vibrancy Smith is looking for.

For my money the “keep Marsh’’ argument wins for the moment – by a short head.

But if he fails it’s over to the kids of the future ... with no regrets.