Australia v India: Mitch Marsh’s place in Test team in doubt after poor form

Beyond the euphoria of Sam Konstas, Boxing Day was a day of missed opportunity for Australia’s batsman, and none blew a greater chance than Mitch Marsh, whose struggles have come to the fore.

Behind the euphoria of Cyclone Sam lay a story of progress but lost potential for Australia’s top order and more pain for Mitch Marsh.

Steve Smith (68 not out) batted with a briskness on Thursday that we hadn’t seen for years, Usman Khawaja found the David Warner-style dasher who enabled him to move with relative comfort to 57 and Marnus Labuschagne (72) scrapped hard after several eye-watering blows to the groin.

But Khawaja, who miscued a pull, and Labuschagne, who arrowed a drive to mid-off first ball after drinks in the last session, both left with their heads rocked back after falling short of the centuries that winked at them before vanishing.

It was still progress though and all of them seem beneficiaries of Sam Konstas’ hellraising start which snapped the ball and chain dragged by Australia’s top three in the opening three Tests.

Marsh, however, the reigning Allan Border Medal winner, continues to struggle.

In the 2023 calendar year that yielded him the Medal, Marsh made 540 runs at 67.5 with four 50s and a hundred over his five Tests.

He began 2024 brightly with 50 against Pakistan in Sydney and 80 against New Zealand in Christchurch, but after managing only 73 runs in his seven innings this series, he had 283 runs at 20.2 in his nine Tests this year.

Given that he is barely bowling, that is a tough year.

With Jasprit Bumrah bowling at the other end in dim light the whole scenario just had a grim feeling of foreboding about it when Marsh faced Bumrah.

Mitch Marsh is under pressure. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Marsh made four in 13 balls before he aimed an ambitious pull shot to one outside off-stump which yielded a thick edge behind.

Last year, against the pull shot, Marsh scored 96 runs without losing his wicket. This year he has 36 runs for three dismissals.

Marsh is an important player for Australia for reasons beyond his cricket ability. He is probably the most popular player in the team among his peers and his presence and good humour enhance team spirit and make him a hard man to drop.

But every cricketer is a prisoner of their numbers which, in the end, are the only currency that matters.

With fellow all-rounder Cameron Green scheduled to return from a back injury mid-year, Marsh is the man under most pressure.

The challenge for his spot may come earlier for Australia will need an all-rounder who bowls on next month’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Originally published as Australia v India: Mitch Marsh’s place in Test team in doubt after poor form