Shaun Marsh’s role in Ashes under threat from in-form brother Mitch
SHAUN Marsh acquitted himself well with the bat in his return to international cricket but the Aussie No.6 faces a challenge from brother Mitch, who is scoring runs himself as well as being on the cusp of a bowling return.
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NOT for the first time in an Ashes series, it could come down to Marsh v Marsh.
Shaun stood up and justified his selection at the Gabba with a 50 that was worth much more, but back in the Wild West, Mitchell is smashing hundreds and on the cusp of a return to bowling.
Team balance is a huge issue for this Australian team which means they’re highly unlikely to go through this Ashes campaign unchanged, and in Glenn Maxwell (278 for Victoria) and Mitchell Marsh (141 for WA) selectors suddenly have two all-rounders bashing down the door.
The younger Marsh has scores of 13, 47no, 67no, 7no, 124, 80no, 36, 4, 0, 6, 95, 28 and 141 for Western Australia in domestic cricket so far this summer.
Until now he’s been unable to bowl due to his cautious recovery from shoulder surgery, but off his long run again at training, it’s expected Marsh could return to bowling in WA’s next match starting on December 3.
Mark Waugh yesterday described the 21-Test M Marsh as a “great package”, as the selection panel continue to ponder whether they’re comfortable leaving their star pace attack continually exposed this Ashes series with no all-rounder.
“He’s batting very well. He’s made a couple of hundreds this season and that’s what you want to see from him. Back in Shield cricket and scoring hundreds,” said selector Mark Waugh on Fox Sports News.
“We know he has the talent with the bat. With the ball he’s had that shoulder injury which he’s coming back from. All reports are he’s going pretty well and not far from bowling.
“He’s a great package if he’s scoring hundreds and bowling at 130-140km an hour. That’s great for him and Australian cricket.”
A proven Test match bowler, all selectors have ever wanted from Marsh is consistent runs, and it’s not out of the question that the 26-year-old could be back in contention by the third Test in Perth.
Maxwell was absolutely sensational for Victoria against NSW, producing the highest Sheffield Shield innings in five years, and selectors have already shown their hand that he may be next in line – given he was drafted in during the week as batting cover for injured players.
Marcus Stoinis is another favourite of selectors.
Only a few months ago it seemed a strong chance that the Marsh brothers may never play Test cricket again, but now they’re climbing over each other.
On the 2015 Ashes tour of England, the two brothers famously had no idea which one was playing right up until the toss – with Shaun ultimately getting the nod.
Shaun would desperately have loved a century on day three at the Gabba to cement his place for the summer, but his gritty 51 off 141 balls against England was enough to repay the selectors’ faith and put pressure on others in the batting line-up.
As it stands, perhaps Peter Handscomb is the man most in the gun if selectors pull the trigger on calling up an all-rounder.
Michael Clarke says the quality that has endeared Shaun Marsh so much to Australian selectors over the years is his “loyalty”.
“He’s loyal to the bone Shaun and that’s what I loved about him,” said Clarke, launching watch maker Hublot’s partnership with this Ashes series.
“He doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. He’s tough. He wants to win. He cares about the team. I thought selectors might have gone for an all-rounder … but I can understand why the selectors have gone for him.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Shaun Marsh grab this opportunity and run with it.”
Originally published as Shaun Marsh’s role in Ashes under threat from in-form brother Mitch
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