Even Marsh madness has its season as Australia gear for Old Trafford

Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc have entered selectors’ calculations for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Mitchell Marsh scored a half-century batting at No 3 in the tour game against Derby. Picture: Getty Images

There’s a madness that grips the affairs of men and women in matters Ashes. A fever of the mind that has a nation demanding Joe Root’s head two days into a match then hoisting him on shoulders alongside Ben Stokes two days later.

Two raging hordes run this way or that in equal and opposite reaction. Tim Paine, who was about to be crowned for being the first Australian captain since Steve Waugh to return home from England with the Ashes, now has his credentials questioned.

The cicada shriek will be deafening if England win at Old Trafford and his contribution is deemed inadequate. And now the talk is of Mitchell Marsh offering a third way.

It might happen, selectors are not completely immune to the irrationality of the mob. Australia have to make one change for the fourth Test. Steve Smith has to come in, so someone has to go out.

The team can make another in the bowling department and has demonstrated that it is willing to do as much in every Test thus far.

What signal does it send to make three changes when the message from the captain and coach to the players is that one — close — loss changes nothing?

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For Marsh to come in, Matthew Wade would probably have to make way. Two Australians have centuries in this series, it would seem highly irregular to drop one of them. Wade scored big for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield, scored centuries for Australia A in the warm-up series, was integral to the win at Edgbaston with his second-innings hundred and did enough in the last innings at Headingley.

The rotation of fast bowlers has negated the need for an allrounder such as Marsh.

Australian selectors have accepted the fact that if you do not have one of great standing then it is best not to flap about. England have had Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff and now Stokes. For some reason Australian cricket has not been able to produce anybody of that quality.

If the younger Marsh could fulfil his potential he might be in the same neighbourhood as that trio, but he has had plenty of opportunity to do so and has not.

Selector Trevor Hohns was ruling everything in when he spoke after the tour match against Derbyshire and nothing out. Marsh had scored a half-century batting at No 3, which was admirable, but it was against a bowling attack so sterile that Steve Smith appeared to throw away his wicket so he could face throwdowns from David Warner in the nets.

Hohns conceded Marsh had given them “a good option” with the innings and hinted that changes could be made anywhere in the line-up to get Smith back in the team.

“Whether it’s up the top or in the middle, but once again we’ll sit down and go through the whys and what-ifs, if we play this person, who’s suited better to what particular area of our batting line-up,” he said.

“And then there’s the bowling line-up as well. Everyone has certainly put forward a good case for inclusion for the next Test match.”

Peter Siddle was said to be part of the long-term planning for this match, but the trio that dismissed England for 67 at Headingley looks as good as any combination and should be well rested after skipping the Derbyshire game.

Siddle is still in the mix, but it was not great for him that he had to play the tour game. There’s a sense that he has only so many days of cricket left in him.

Mitchell Starc has something of a case, with Old Trafford said to be the fastest wicket in England and his form in the tour match heartening. He has spent the tour adjusting to unaccustomed lengths in the nets because his natural method of attack has not been a comfortable fit for a team that wants control.

Josh Hazlewood has discovered the key to bowling in England and demonstrated it with two of his best performances at Headingley after a strong outing at Lord’s.

“I think I’m not trying to do too much, try and be very simple, not try and swing the ball, occasionally I do when it gets a bit older but just hitting that right length with the new ball, making them play, not try and do too much, try and keep it simple,” he said on the weekend. “Dry that scoreboard up, build pressure with maidens, make him play on the front foot, not try and do too much as a whole group.”

Starc is aiming to re-engineer himself into a bowler who can meet those requirements.

Marnus Labuschagne is going nowhere. He has found a way to make runs in England that has continued despite the step up from Division Two of the County Championship to the Test team.

David Warner is under no pressure despite a string of failures at the top order. Travis Head’s position is so secure he was given the tour match off.

Hazlewood too has locked down his place in the team.

“The body’s really good,” he said. “I felt a lot better at Headingley than Lord’s for getting those miles into the legs from Lord’s. (My) body’s feeling really good and (I’m) happy to play in both.”

The series has entered the home straight. The side that keeps its head and makes the most of its opportunity will win this race.