Alex Carey insists Shaun Marsh can help Australia avoid unwanted history
ALEX Carey says Australia won’t buckle under the pressure of a record losing streak, insisting a returning batsman struggling for international runs is the antidote to propel the hosts past South Africa.
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VICE-CAPTAIN Alex Carey insists Australia won’t buckle under the ‘pressure’ of a record losing streak with Shaun Marsh the antidote to its batting woes against South Africa.
Australia is in the depths of its worst, seven-match, one-day losing sequence entering game two of the series against Faf du Plessis’ Proteas on Friday at Adelaide Oval.
“We don’t feel under pressure internally, we are really confident, have a lot of good players at the top of the list there,” said Carey of Australia, now sixth in ICC rankings ahead of Bangladesh just six months out from the World Cup in England.
“We want to win, it’s what we are playing for and the pressure is to start performing. What we are doing away from game day is sensational so it will turn really quickly.
“We want to make fans proud of us again and it is about doing that, the tough cricket we are good at playing, respectfully, but fair.”
Marsh, 35, missed the series opening, six-wicket loss against the Proteas following surgery to remove an abscess on his buttock. Australian coach Justin Langer will be desperate to reinstate the veteran - boasting a one-day average of 40 - to the line-up that made just 152 at Perth Stadium. Australia has lost 17 of its past 19 one-day games.
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Marsh floundered with a tour aggregate of 14 in two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates but struck two tons in the 5-0 whitewash dealt by England in England
“He is pretty positive that he’ll be right for Friday,” said Carey of Marsh.
“We definitely have the players to bat deep and Shaun Marsh is a really good player to do that.”
Australia must improve in the power play where it managed just 19 runs in Perth against a fearsome, Dale Steyn-led attack. Australia failed to register a boundary through its first 10 overs in Perth.
Keeper-batsman Carey backed skipper Aaron Finch to ignite while noting Travis Head’s maiden ton came here against Pakistan two years ago. The Proteas are due a dose of ‘Lynnsanity’ says Carey after Chris Lynn fell for 15 batting at No.4 behind D’Arcy Short (0).
“We definitely have the players to bat deep and Shaun Marsh is a really good player to do that. Finchy makes big hundreds, has 11 for Australia,” said Carey, adding “it was a dream” to make his hometown debut in the green and gold.
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Australia is expected to recall South Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa or Ashton Agar by pruning its four-man pace attack.
However, there are uncanny similarities to Australia’s 1980s nadir in a struggle for wins and cohesion. Carey says Langer’s men ‘acknowledge’ a situation magnified by high performance boss Pat Howard’s exit on Wednesday.
“As a playing group our focus is on Friday and turn around what happened on Sunday and play some really exciting cricket,” said Carey.
Carey was the only recognised batsman to pass 30 against the Proteas – showing a glimpse of the quality that is highly rated by Australia’s hierarchy.
“I guess the other day it was a tough situation to go and weather some pressure. I would have liked to have batted deeper but feel quite confident going out and playing against that attack,” said Carey.
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Originally published as Alex Carey insists Shaun Marsh can help Australia avoid unwanted history
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