Australia v India: Robert Craddock on why Mitch Marsh was dropped and what it means

Selectors were leaning towards giving Mitch Marsh another chance in the SCG Test. Then, their thinking changed. ROBERT CRADDOCK has the details on why.

• Marsh dropped, Webster to debut at SCG

The day before Mitchell Marsh was dropped, Australian captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald were seen alone out in the middle of the SCG outfield.

As the rest of the throng moved away to the nets they stood in a vast open space a metre apart, eyeball to eyeball for 20 minutes of intense conversation.

There were no smiles. Much animation. They looked like two men working their way through a major decision.

As was the case with his father Geoff, dropping Marsh was never going to be easy because he brings so much to the team.

He is the man who has no enemies in a side where there has been some post Sandpapergate fallout between batsmen and bowlers.

Team spirit isn’t everything in cricket but the men who conjure it are still treasured and get most 50-50 calls.

But every cricketer is a prisoner of their numbers and Marsh’s were weighing him down like lead balloon. No top six batsman can exist for long with a batting average of 28.

Pat Cummins embraces Mitch Marsh after the win in Melbourne. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Dropping Marsh for Beau Webster is a big, but justifiable, call from a selection panel who have subtly changed gears.

The instant Mitchell Starc decided to push through the pain barrier with a niggle in his back the selectors realised Marsh was deemed a luxury Australia could not afford.

Australia invariably has fatigue problems in the fifth Test and with Starc carrying a niggle the selectors needed an allrounder who can bowl 10 overs a day if required.

Marsh, with chronic ankle problems, simply can’t.

If Starc broke down and Marsh was barely able to bowl and Australia lost this Test to India - the selectors would have never forgiven themselves for not freshening up the team.

At least this way they won’t die wondering.

Beau Webster will make his Test debut at the SCG. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

Very subtly, the selectors have acknowledged they are in an era of change. Few people expected them to sack Nathan McSweeney. They did and Sam Konstas might well have won them the series.

Emboldened, they have axed Marsh when most felt he might just get one last chance even though his recent numbers are horrible.

Cummins told the press conference Marsh needed a freshen up but the bottom line is he is unlikely to play Test cricket again.

The demotion means he is now Australia’s No 3 allrounder behind Cameron Green and the just promoted Beau Webster and soon enough Aaron Hardie, Jack Edwards and perhaps Will Sutherland will be surging into the fray.

It should never be forgotten that the allrounders role is one of the most challenging and hard to fill - Australia has only had a handful of outstanding ones in its Test history.

Australia has had countless boy wonders who rise towards the role and then realise how hard it is.

Originally published as Australia v India: Robert Craddock on why Mitch Marsh was dropped and what it means