Mitch Marsh was dismissed for a duck against South Africa, it’s time to pick a batsman

MITCHELL Marsh’s first innings duck at the WACA was only more evidence that he is not a capable No.6 batsman. Not now or at any stage since he was first selected.

Mitch Marsh dismissed for a duck in the first Test against South Africa.

END the madness now.

Mitchell Marsh’s first innings duck at the WACA was only more evidence that he is not a capable No.6 batsman. Not now and hasn’t been since he was first selected 18 Tests ago.

The baffling commentary around him leading in to the game from selector Mark Waugh, who said he “could be a 10-year player” only raised more questions about a selection group that picked Moises Henriques to play for Australia against Sri Lanka on the back of a first-class season that netted 47 runs at an average of 15.

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Chief selector Rod Marsh and his men seem beguiled by thoughts of what Marsh could do as the all-rounder they feel they must have in the team, and are obviously blinded by what he has done, which is nothing.

Here they are, Marsh’s numbers in his now 19 Tests. He’s scored 600 runs at an average of 23.07. He’s taken 27 wickets at an average of 36.

Not enough, surely, to get in as either a batsman, or a bowler. Surely.

In his 30 innings for Australia he has just two fifties, no centuries, 10 single figure scores and now three ducks.

So that’s 13 of his 30 innings, nearly half, in which he hasn’t passed 10.

And that’s where the judgement has to come, on his batting.

Australia’s frontline bowling attack has, and forever will, do the bulk of the damage with the ball. They are world class.

They have to anyway, given “Bison” Marsh has taken just two wickets in his past four Tests.

But the shaky nature of Australia’s top-order of late has made it imperative that when they get to batsman number six, there has to be some level of confidence that the man coming in has the capacity to stay, and to score.

Mitch Marsh has a laugh with coach Darren Lehmann.

He needs to be competent against an old, potentially reverse swinging ball, and spin, as is often being bowled at that time of the innings.

He needs to have a cool, clear mind if he’s come in on the back of a collapse, as happened on Friday, as well as an ability to bat with the tail as the last of the recognised batsman.

Mitchell Marsh inspires about as much confidence as Glenn McGrath did with the bat. Apologies Glenn.

So who comes in? A quick squiz around the Sheffield Shield sides could find any number of contenders. Glenn Maxwell is one, but only because he can bowl handy off-spin, and he’s a Victorian.

Marcus Stoinis made 120 for Australia A against South Africa A this year, and bowls at 140kmh.

But should they even have to be able to bowl?

When three of your top five batsmen haven’t played 20 Tests, can you really afford your No.6 to underperform so often just because he might be able to bowl OK when needed?

C’mon Rod, pick a batsman at six, there are plenty to choose from, and if, and it’s a big if, “Bison” makes century after century for Western Australia (he only has four in 108 first-class innings by the way), and jags a few wickets as well, maybe you can give him another go.

But the madness just has to end.

Originally published as Mitch Marsh was dismissed for a duck against South Africa, it’s time to pick a batsman