Shaun Marsh’s remarkable statistics after falling for 2 in first Test against India

Shaun Marsh has failed again, dismissed for just 2 against India in Adelaide. In the process he set a mark not achieved by an Australian batsman since 1888. And fans weren’t impressed.

Indian players celebrate after Australia's Shaun Marsh is dismissed during the first Test between Australia and India in Adelaide.

Shaun Marsh’s feast or famine Test ride continues to polarize but history suggests the veteran is under serious pressure to continue his baggy green journey.

Marsh is capable of thrilling and frustrating in equal measure but the gap between his six tons, nine half-centuries and failures have been a millstone over 35 Tests.

Marsh, 35, capped the worst run of scores under 10 runs by an Australian top five batsman for 130 years with a pedestrian exit to Indian nemesis Ravi Ashwin in the second session on Friday.

Australia's Shaun Marsh drags the ball onto his stumps. Picture: AP

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Marsh is the last Australian batsman in the top five to make six consecutive single figure scores since George Bonnor in 1888. Marsh has been dismissed for 7, 7, 0, 3, 4 and 2 stretching back to the Wanderers Test against South Africa in March.

Bonnor never played again after making a duck – his 10th score under 10 - at Old Trafford when caught by WG Grace off brilliant England allrounder Bobby Peel.

Skipper Tim Paine said Mitch Marsh was axed as the allounder’s numbers didn’t stack up and his older sibling must deliver in Australia’s second innings.

Having argued for Mitch Marsh’s exclusion from the first Test, strident critic Geoff Lawson’s push for ‘perpetual disappointment’ Shaun Marsh’s axing could gain momentum.

Indian players celebrate after dismissing Australia’s Shaun Marsh.

Marsh dragged a wide and full Ashwin delivery onto his stumps from the final ball of the first over after lunch, walking into a trap set by Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

“Full credit to Ashwin and Virat Kohli. There was fortune involved but the field was set perfectly, the carrot was dangled and he bit it nicely,” former England skipper Michael Vaughan said on Fox Sports.

Ashwin has claimed Marsh five times in Tests at an average of 1.6.

“So often in the modern era you see the field drop deep for the spinners and they allow easy singles, particularly for batsman that first come to the crease. He bowled it slower and wider to said to Shaun Marsh ‘play the big shot’,” said Vaughan

“I don’t care how good you are when you first get the crease, you are vulnerable. His eyes lit up and saw the boundary, good tactics.”

Shaun Marsh’s last ten Test innings
2 4 3 0 7 7 16 0 26 1
66 runs @ 6.6

Nathan Lyon’s last ten Test innings
6* 2 5* 6 9 8 0 47 5 17
105 runs @ 13.1

Josh Hazlewood’s last ten Test innings
9* 1* 5 10 17 10* 9* 2* 1* 3
67 runs @ 16.75#AUSvIND @NathLyon421 #FoxCricket

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 7, 2018

Shaun Marsh with 6 single figure scores in a row at test level. The first Australian batting in the top 5 to do that since 1888#cricket #AusvInd #cricketaustralia

— Douglas (@DougHogan23) December 7, 2018

Deprived of Steve Smith and David Warner Australian coach Justin Langer keeps investing faith in Marsh who can destroy any attack once set and made 141 on debut in Sri Lanka during 2011.

However the Western Australian’s nervous starts have contributed to 26 Test dismissals for less than 10. Marsh’s Test average has dropped from 40 after Australia’s Kingsmead Test win to 34.7.

Marsh now has seven scores of under three in 13 innings against India in Australia which is a familiar echo to the finish of father Geoff’s career.

Former Australian opener Geoff Marsh’s last five Test scores of 10, 8, 4, 8, and 5 were also against India during 1991-92.

Marsh had, ironically, sealed his spot for the Border-Gavaskar series opener with an unbeaten 163 as Western Australia chased 313 against South Australia in Adelaide last month.

Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell remain candidates for recalls should selectors lose patience with Marsh.

You have to wonder how a bloke like Joe Burns feels. He got rushed to Jo'burg after the sandpaper thing, made 42 in one innings, and then got dropped. Shaun Marsh hasn't made 42 IN TOTAL in that time. #AUSvIND

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) December 7, 2018

Why do the Aus cricket selectors do this to us by picking Shaun Marsh? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pBYiDKZP80

— B.J. Winzer (@Omegaville) December 7, 2018

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Originally published as Shaun Marsh’s remarkable statistics after falling for 2 in first Test against India