Australia forced to draft in Ashton Turner as vice-captain Mitchell Marsh hospitalised with illness
Australia has been forced into a late change ahead of their ODI series with India, with coach Justin Langer turning to Ashton Turner after revealing Mitchell Marsh has spent two days in hospital.
Cricket
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The Australian cricket team’s revolving door has been prised open for Ashton Turner.
The Western Australian hasn’t exactly been knocking it down but he’s been banging on it long enough for someone to notice he’s still around after playing three T20 internationals for Australia two years ago.
Turner’s scored three first-class centuries but is more recognised as a white ball-player and things have fallen into place for him just at the right time.
He’s scored 60 not out, 47 and 43 not out in his three Big Bash knocks since the start of the New Year and one of the blokes blocking his selection has just fallen ill.
Mitch Marsh has been hit by a nasty bout of gastritis which has been so severe that he’s spent two days in hospital, ruling him out of Saturday’s first ODI against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Australian coach Langer is excited about giving Turner another chance, saying his speed running between wickets could be a gamebreaker.
“That might sound like the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard but his running between the wickets is unbelievable,” Langer said.
“He’s such a great athlete and one of the hallmarks of great Australian teams — think of
Dean Jones, Michael Bevan, Michael Hussey — is the running, it’s a basic but he does that.”
As admirable as Langer’s enthusiasm for quick running between the wickets is, most Australian cricket fans would settle for someone who can just protect their wicket.
With just three wins from their last 23 ODIs dating back over almost two years, Australia’s batting has been woeful but Langer is confident Turner will carry his form from the domestic competition into the internationals.
“We’ve also talked about getting players who can finish off innings and he’s shown that in the Big Bash,” Langer said.
“He’s in great form. He’s an elite athlete in the field and he’s also a captain.
“You see the way he finishes innings that he’s a good thinker and a really good leader.”
Langer has already put all his players on notice that no-one is guaranteed their place for this year’s World Cup and Ashes series and told players on the fringe they can still force their way in.
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“You'd like to think nobody ever feels confident they're locked in because every single game is an opportunity,” Langer said
He added that next week’s Cricket Australia XI match against Sri Lanka, which features some of the brightest emerging talent in the country including NSW teenager Jason Sangha, is a fight for higher selection.
“It’s more like a 2nd (Australian) XI so it gives guys opportunities,” he said.
“It’s against Sri Lanka and under lights so you could say it’s a bat-off and that’s great.
“If people think there’s pressure in that that’s great because when you get to Test cricket there’s a lot more pressure than batting for a spot in the team.”
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