Mitch Marsh falls to Jasprit Bumrah again as Test spot under fire

Jasprit Bumrah has blasted through Australia’s middle order to pull India level in a Boxing Day Test for the ages. It could mean the end of a Test career.

Former Australian selector Mark Waugh says there will be talks over Mitch Marsh’s future in the Test side after he again fell victim to Jasprit Bumrah in a dramatic Australian collapse at the MCG.

Marsh was dismissed for a duck in identical fashion to his first innings as Bumrah also ripped through Travis Head (1) and Alex Carey (2) to swing the game back in India’s favour.

With the wicket of Head, the fearsome Indian quick reached 200 Test wickets in his 44th match, equalling Pat Cummins as the 13th-quickest bowlers to the milestone and doing so with the lowest bowling average in history.

Carey’s wicket brought Pat Cummins to the crease alongside Marnus Labuschagne with a lead of only 196 runs midway through day four.

Mitch Marsh could face the axe after he again fell for a single-digit score in a dramatic Australian collapse at the MCG. Picture: William West / AFP

The fourth-ball dismissal of Marsh after he got out in identical fashion on the first day meant the 33-year-old all-rounder had five consecutive single-figure scores and just 283 runs at 18.86 in 2024.

Waugh said it would prompt talks over whether the reigning Allan Border medallist should hold his spot in Sydney.

He said Mitchell Starc’s soreness, and the possibility of Jhye Richardson being recalled off limited red-ball cricket, could demand a larger workload for a fourth seamer.

Lowest batting average among Australian batters in home Tests in a calendar year (minimum ten innings at 1-6):

11.60 - Mitchell Marsh (2024)
21.23 - David Boon (1995)
24.40 - Rick McCosker (1975)
26.00 - Kim Hughes (1980)
26.23 - Justin Langer (2003)#AUSvIND

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 29, 2024

Marsh bowled only seven of 120 overs in India’s first innings, and was targeted by their bats.

“There will be (a debate), depending on the conditions and the balance of the team. Beau Webster’s in the squad, (Marsh has made) no runs in this game,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.

“In theory, you could bat Alex Carey at six, have Beau Webster at seven, that could be an option as well.

“(Webster) is a batting all-rounder, but he will bowl more overs, plus he can bowl offspin and seam.

“That will be a discussion point depending on what happens in the next two days here, the fitness of Mitchell Starc for example.”