Veteran batsman Shaun Marsh in the mix to make shock return to Aussie Test team

He last played a Test match almost two years ago, but with injuries causing havoc among the top order, Australia could turn to a familiar face to play India.

Australia coach Justin Langer has confirmed 37-year-old Shaun Marsh hasn’t been ruled out of a shock Test return as injuries hit the team’s top order.

Marsh played his last Test in January 2019 against India, but Langer said you “never discriminate against age”, and the left-hander could be in the mix, with David Warner ruled out and Will Pucovski under a concussion cloud.

Langer’s comments throw a whole new dimension on the selection conundrum facing the Aussies, with Victoria opener Marcus Harris considered the next in line.

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Shaun Marsh has still been piling on the runs for Western Australia.

Harris, who made 239 for the Vics in a record-breaking 286-run stand with Pucovski against South Australia in October, played the last of his nine Tests in the Ashes last year.

Marsh, who is with the Melbourne Renegades preparing for their first BBL game on Saturday, also made 485 runs in six Shield innings as captain of WA.

That included three hundreds, and Langer’s support could put him in line to add to his 38 Tests when Australia takes on India in Adelaide next week.

“You never discriminate against age. He’s doing everything possible,” Langer told 7 NEWS on Friday.

“His numbers in Sheffield Shield cricket – not only this year but the back end of last year – were absolutely elite.

“There’s no more popular player in the Australian cricket team than Shaun, maybe his brother (Mitch) actually.

“It’s an incredible family, the Marsh family, they’re much loved within the team.”

Usman Khawaja is another name in the mix, but on Thursday he said he was only focused on preparing for the Big Bash season with the Sydney Thunder.

“I’m just here focusing on Thunder stuff, that’s the honest truth. I’m practising with the guys every day, getting ready for that first T20 game. That’s really how far I look. I don’t look beyond that,” he said.

“Ben Cutting is a new recruit and he asked me the schedule for the next two weeks and I can’t even tell him. I like to keep my feet on the ground, not look too far head and focus on what’s in front of me right now.

“I can’t focus on what I don’t have. With all my experience in cricket and life, you control what you can control.”

Harris or Marsh? One opening spot could come down to a battle between the two.

Neither Marsh or Khawaja, who, like Harris, played his last Test during the Ashes last year, have been picked for Friday’s pink-ball tour game against the Indians.

But Langer, who puts a premium on early runs, said Marsh was “doing everything right”.

“You can imagine I’m very passionate about getting the opening partnership right,” the coach said.

“I know how important it is to a successful team.

“We’ll be working through that and hopefully get the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle right for the first Test match and beyond next week.”

Originally published as Veteran batsman Shaun Marsh in the mix to make shock return to Aussie Test team