Mitchell Marsh selection ‘a mistake now and for the future’

Much-maligned Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been recalled for tonight’s Fifth Ashes Test against England. Picture: AP

Pick your reason — there’s plenty to go around — to be outraged at Mitchell Marsh’s latest recall.

An average of 7.4 in his past 10 Test innings — top score 16 — is a good place to start.

Marsh’s Test average of 25.39 is inferior to that of James Pattinson (26.73). Perhaps they picked the wrong bloke …

Such numbers are hardly the raw material to shore up an already mediocre batting list (bar the obvious exception).

But the selectors have outdone themselves in handing us a new reason to have another go at the unfortunate Marsh for his fortunate selection.

Travis Head (right) makes way for Mitchell Marsh (left) in tonight’s Fifth Test at The Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Because the player he replaces, joint vice-captain Travis Head, has paid a heavy price for the Australian team’s “workload management” practices.

The bowlers are well used to being rested or rotated — just ask Mitchell Starc — but dropping a batsman because of bowler “workloads” is breaking new ground.

Head has been axed because the selectors want a fifth bowler — Marsh — to ease the load on Pat Cummins, who tired on day five at Manchester.

In explaining the move, Tim Paine said overnight that “the series being a long and tough one” they needed to consider Cummins’ “huge workload”.

Tim Paine explains the change to Australia's XII for the fifth and final #Ashes Test. pic.twitter.com/m7W7wHxX5t

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2019

A long series? Five Tests when once there were six? Three tour matches compared with the 15-plus county matches of tours past?

Cummins has bowled 164 overs in this series. Compare that with the 1989 Ashes numbers of Geoff Lawson (277), Terry Alderman (269) and Merv Hughes (189).

Go back further and Dennis Lillee bowled 311 overs in 1981.

That’s not to suggest Lillee or the 89 trio were collectively tougher and more resilient than Cummins.

Indeed, Cummins is “very, very keen” to play tonight, according to Paine.

But saying Cummins needs help because it’s been a “long summer” is hard to sustain.

Just when you think that the Australian selectors may finally have gotten their act together, they bring Mitch Marsh in for Travis Head. Staggering decision.

— Tom Hackett (@ResidentRainman) September 11, 2019

Yes, the Tests have been packed into a shorter period, but Cummins hasn’t been required to play in as many tour matches as his predecessors.

Cummins appeared tired in the second innings in Manchester, so goodness knows how he managed to take 4-43 from 24 overs.

On the morning of the final day he told Ian Healy: “I always feel the more I bowl the better I bowl”.

After play he admitted he was spent but so he should be after such a herculean effort. It’s Test cricket, not the backyard at mum’s.

At the end of it all, Head is the victim of an illogical selection.

#Ashes2019 selectors and Mitch Marsh be like pic.twitter.com/Efof7HQPpG

— Chris Toyne (@keith_the_cat) September 11, 2019

At a time when batsmen are thin on the ground, the selectors have dropped a player averaging 43.

“Unless you are on the inner sanctum, you never really know the mechanics and thinking but boy I’m disappointed that Travis Head has been omitted from the fifth Test,” former Victorian keeper and South Australia coach Darren Berry tweeted today.

Unless you are on the inner sanctum you never really know the mechanics & thinking but boy I’m disappointed that @travishead34 has been omitted from the 5th Test. Selectors have been outstanding this series but IMO this one is a mistake for the now and the future.

— Darren Berry (@ChuckBerry1969) September 11, 2019

“Selectors have been outstanding this series but in my opinion this one is a mistake for the now and the future.”

Batting average after 12 Test matches:

Travis Head - 42.70
Michael Clarke - 41.81
Ricky Ponting - 38.33
Steve Smith - 34.77
Matthew Wade - 34.61
Justin Langer - 29.73
Mitch Marsh - 24.87#Ashes

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) September 11, 2019

Irrational selections have a hidden cost in that they can erode a player’s confidence.

And on the flipside of that, all the ire directed at Marsh — one of the nicest blokes to have played for Australia — can’t help his state of mind either.

Given the lack of tour matches, it’s hard to draw a bead on Marsh’s formline. But an average of 47 in five innings is encouraging.

And, don’t forget, he likes the English bowling. Both his Test hundreds came in the past home Ashes series.

Perhaps he’ll make a third tonight, complicating matters leading up to the first Test at the Gabba in November.

Remember when having too many in-form batsmen was a good problem to have?

“Mitch Marsh...”

Twitter: pic.twitter.com/vrOv8APAFp

— Mitchell Scott (@MitchellBScott) September 11, 2019