Second Ashes Test: Shaun Marsh puts Australia in command

A magnificent Shaun Marsh century has batted a struggling England out of the game.

Shaun Marsh celebrates his century at Adelaide Oval yesterday.

A magnificent Shaun Marsh ­century has batted a struggling England out of the game and ­potentially out of the series two days into the second Test.

Marsh’s selection was greeted with outrage from critics, who pointed out that it was his eighth recall and he had only recently been judged not worthy of a ­contract. At 34, his revival seemed a breach of policies.

West Australian coach Justin Langer said earlier in the summer the left-hander was in the best form of his life and his observation has been proved more than just parochial boasting.

Marsh brought up his fifth Test hundred with a commanding pull shot that pushed Australia’s total past 400. A nervous starter, he shrugged off having to begin again against a new ball in the morning and grew with confidence as the three figures approached. In full flight Marsh is as elegant as he is ungainly while attempting take-off.

England’s and Marsh’s day was summed up just before tea when Alastair Cook and James Vince ­almost knocked each other out in a failed attempt to take a catch off the batsman.

Australia declared at dusk 8-442, England lost one wicket, Mark Stoneman, LBW to Starc before play was abandoned because of a late shower. They being again on 1-29.

James Vince and Alastair Cook collide in a failed attempt to catch Shaun Marsh. Picture: AAP

Shaun and father Geoff are now the first Australian father-son combination to score centuries against England.

The only hint of trouble for Australia concerns Tim Paine’s finger. The Tasmanian was struck twice on the digit that has all but kept him out of cricket since he broke it in 2010.

He was stoic but clearly in pain after the blows, batting on to score his first Test half-century since one in Bangalore seven years ago. None of his teammates from that match remain in the side.

SCOREBOARD

Paine’s finger is full of pins but he is tough and the only thing that will stop him keeping in Perth is a significant break. If he doesn’t make it, Cam Bancroft may be asked to keep at home and the other Marsh, Mitchell, could be ­included in the side.

Marsh and Paine combined for an 85-run partnership yesterday that saw off the new ball, the ageing England seamers and everything else the side could throw at them.

Marsh then combined for an even bigger union with Pat ­Cummins, whose batting is a ­blessing to the lower order.

The visitors are in trouble. They need reinforcements but it is not apparent from where they will come.

The team’s bowling lacks ­penetration. James Anderson and Stuart Broad appear past their best. Chris Woakes’s half-trackers are gifts to decent batsmen and tail­enders alike. Moeen Ali was also well below his best.

England’s belief that impatience is Australia’s greatest weakness has proved false. Steve Smith’s eight-hour marathon in the first Test was something of a solo effort, but here Marsh, Paine and even the tail waited on something in their area then pounced on it when it came.

Cummins didn’t get off the mark for the first 36 balls of his ­innings, but when he did it was with an elegant cut for four.

The Australians’ first innings is a massive mortgage on England’s house, which the attack has left the batsmen to pay off. Joe Root’s ­decision to send Smith’s side in is another thing that has not paid off thanks to lacklustre bowling and patient batting.

On day one a series of rain spells allowed England’s bowlers to incrementally and eventually improve their line, but their lengths were still up for debate.

Day two they were afforded no such luxury and failed to make the most of a situation that appeared made for them. Anderson and Broad had a bright pink ball, used for one over the evening before, cloud conditions that saw it ­moving significantly in the air, a pitch whose bounce and carry had improved from the previous day and one with a covering of grass that caught the seam and sent it this way or that.

Things could not have begun more promisingly. Anderson, Broad and Peter Handscomb had wandered from the ground at the end of the day’s play on Saturday exchanging barbs. The batsman had scratched 36 from so deep in his crease he looked to have taken up residence on Jonny Bairstow’s front lawn.

Handscomb lasted three balls of Broad’s first over yesterday. The bowler, not a man to let things go, roared his triumph so close to the batsman that Handscomb would have been able to give his teammates an account of what the Englishman ate for breakfast.

When Paine joined Marsh at the crease, England were threatening and the batting thinned. Australia was 5-209, but Anderson dropped short a few balls into Paine’s innings and was knocked disdainfully to fine leg for four.

Australia struck five fours in an 18-ball spell and the threat dissolved as simply as that. Anderson bowled too short and need not take anyone else’s word for it because the DRS twice confirmed it.

Australia was not yet 250 and another wicket may well have renewed England’s hope, especially when Anderson had Marsh given LBW when the batsman was 29 not out.

He looked out, the batsman was tentative in calling for the DRS, but delighted when it showed the ball hurdling the stumps like a 1970s streaker.

Anderson then had Paine similarly given in his next over but again the computer said no.

Anderson has not bowled well in this match.

Root gave him just six overs in the session and Broad three, placing faith in debutant Craig Overton.