Mitch Marsh’s Test career teetering on the brink after latest failure

Australian all-rounder Mitch Marsh has landed firmly on the hot seat with fans all echoing a similar sentiment about his career.

The Australian selectors at times have to make tough calls to drop players from the Test squad.

This isn’t one of them.

Mitch Marsh is horrifically out of form with both the bat and ball and should be counting his lucky stars if he is to line up for the Aussies in the fifth Test in Sydney.

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Having won the Allan Border Medal last year, Marsh’s Test career should now be only one day away from coming to an end.

The Australia all-rounder has endured a horror series against India with his lowly batting form continuing in the second innings on day four at the MCG.

Marsh has tallied only 73 runs through seven innings at an average of 10.42, with a high score of 47 that came in the first Test in Perth.

His remaining scores at the crease have returned 6, 9, 5, 2, 4 and a duck. The paltry display with the willow is being further amplified by his struggles to have an impact with the ball in hand.

After bowling 17 overs in the opening Test and claiming 3/77, Marsh has only bowled 13 overs while failing to claim a wicket.

It’s why the calls for the Australian selectors to drop him after his latest failure at the crease are now deafening and should be impossible for them to ignore.

Marsh’s time might be up. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh said it’s time for the selectors to look elsewhere … and that being in the direction of Beau Webster.

“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.”

Peter Lalor on SEN said: “I think a change needs to be made there. If I had my selector’s hat on I’m not picking Mitch Marsh in Sydney.”

Mark Gottlieb wrote on X: “Mitch Marsh can’t be picked for the SCG test. Surely. Bloke is horrendously out of form. Offers nothing with the ball and delivering nothing with the bat.”

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

Despite the vast majority of cricket fans all calling for Marsh to be axed from the squad, former Australian coach Justin Langer said he wouldn’t be shaking things up.

Langer wants to see Marsh get back to his free-flowing style of cricket which he believes would see him return to his best.

“Yes, I would pick him in Sydney,” Langer said on Channel 7.

“He said when he won last year’s AB Medal, his words wore, I’m a bit fat and I like a beer. That’s how I want to see him play cricket with a smile on his face.

“I don’t like the chopping and changing of Test teams. In that instance, it will be another change to the Test team. I don’t think it will be a positive one. I think he should play in Sydney.

“If I was Pat Cummins, his mate and his captain, if I was the head coach or the selectors I’d be saying ‘Mitch it’s a big game for us. Get in with your mates. Play with that carefree attitude and show us what you’ve got’.”

Marsh will have one more chance to prove his worth to the team when India’s second innings gets underway at the MCG.

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