Another debutant shines for Australia against Sri Lanka
Columnist By Kersi Meher-Homji, 10 Sep 2011 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert
Australian cricketer Shaun Marsh bats during the second day of the second test cricket match. AP Photo/ Eranga Jayawardena
It seems Australian selectors have found a new formula to win Test matches. In the first Test at Galle against Sri Lanka last week, they blooded Trent Copeland and Nathan Lyon, and they contributed richly to Australia’s morale-boosting victory.
The absence of Ricky Ponting forced the selectors to include another debutant for the second Test at Pallekele, Shaun Marsh. And at stumps on day 2, he is unbeaten on 87, having added 148 runs with Mike Hussey (76 not out) for the unbroken fourth wicket.
The ease with which the two left-handers played yesterday indicated that there was nothing wrong with the pitch.
All the more credit should go to the Australian bowlers who dismissed the reputably strong batting line-up of the home team for a paltry total of 174 after they had won the toss and decided to bat.
The total would have been even smaller had Shane Watson not dropped the stylish left-hander Kumar Sangakkara in the slip when he was 27. He went on to score 48 and added 52 runs with the consistent Angelo Mathews (58) after Sri Lanka was tottering at 5 for 76.
Why skipper Tillekaratne Dilshan sends Mathews in at no. 7 puzzles me.
In the second innings of the first Test, also, he had scored a gallant 95, adding 142 runs for the sixth wicket with Mahela Jayawardene (105) after Sri Lanka was tottering at 5 for 68.
So take a bow Ryan Harris (3 for 38), and also Copeland, Mitchell Johnson and Lyon for their fatal double strikes in the Pallekele Test on Thursday. The surprise packet was part-time bowler Mike Hussey who dismissed the well-set Sangakkara (48) just when he was looking dangerous.
So whatever new captain Michael Clarke has touched has turned to gold so far.
It was emotional to see Geoff Marsh presenting the Green and Gold cap number 422 to son Shaun before the Test commenced. And to see the delight in Geoff’s eyes as Shaun reached his fifty was something out of a TV miniseries.
Shaun became only the second Australian and 41st son to follow in his father’s footsteps leading to Test cricket.
Geoff Marsh had played 50 Tests for Australia from 1985-91, scoring 2854 runs at 33.18 with four centuries (highest score 138). But his Test debut (against India at Adelaide in December 1985) was disappointing, scoring only 5 and 2 not out.
The first father-son combination was also provided by Australia, EJ Gregory (1 Test, 1877) and son SE Gregory (58 Tests, 1890-1912).
The fathers and sons who played Test cricket lists two from Australia as mentioned above, 11 from England (including Huttons, Cowdreys and Stewarts), six from South Africa (including Nourses and Pollocks), three from the West Indies, six from New Zealand (including Hadlees and Cairns), eight from India (including the Pataudis, Mankads and Manjrekars), two from India and Pakistan and three from Pakistan.
For complete list, see my article published on The Roar in December 2009.
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September 10th 2011 @ 7:23am
Galaxy Hop said | September 10th 2011 @ 7:23am | Report comment
Sorry mate, did you mean two from Sri Lanka? It says India twice. Good work, though.
September 10th 2011 @ 7:39am
Kersi Meher-Homji said | September 10th 2011 @ 7:39am | Report comment
Galaxy Hop,
Due to parttion in 1947, two fathers and sons played Tests for different countries.
Jahangir Khan played four Tests for India from 1932 to 1936 and son, the well-known Majid Khan, played 63 Tests for Pakistan from 1964 to 1983.
Wazir Ali played seven Tests for India from 1932 to 1936 and son Khalid Wazir played two Tests for Pakistan in 1954.
That is why India and Pakistan have been mentioned twice.
September 10th 2011 @ 12:51pm
Johnno said | September 10th 2011 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Wasn’t Jahangir Khan A sqaush player for Pakistan Kersi.
September 10th 2011 @ 1:44pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | September 10th 2011 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Johnno,
The Khans of Pakistan have produced four world champions in squash. They were Hashim Khan, a legend in his lifetime, his younger brother Roshan Khan and his sister’s son Mohibullah. They are hallowed names, having tasted international fame in squash. Later Hashim’s son Shariff and Roshan’s son Torsam carried the torch. Hashim won the British Open seven times in a row from 1950-56. Later Roshan and Mohibullah kept winning world titles.
However, they are not related (as far as I know) to the cricketing Khans; Jahangir, his son Majid, his nephew the great Imran and Javed Burki.
September 10th 2011 @ 4:17pm
Johnno said | September 10th 2011 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Yes Kersi the Khan family clearly are a talented squash family with a rich history in the sport. It is always interesting to see a family that has a long history in a sport.
September 10th 2011 @ 7:15pm
FACT OF THE MATTER said | September 10th 2011 @ 7:15pm | Report comment
jahangir khan won 555 matches without a single defeat….legend is a small word for someone like him…….
September 10th 2011 @ 7:46pm
Johnno said | September 10th 2011 @ 7:46pm | Report comment
Also Fact of the matter there was a another modern day great Pakistan squash player Jansher Khan to. Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan were both great players in the 1980′s and 90′s. i also read today funny the stuff you find out about subject when looking up about these squash players , i also found out Eygpt squash is big sport to. But both khans were big 1980′s and 1990′s squash stars, i wonder fi they are related like brother or cousins I don’t know, any one know.
September 11th 2011 @ 5:09pm
FACT OF THE MATTER said | September 11th 2011 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
Yes Johnno they are distant cousins….so funny of all the people in the world when jahangir khan started losing his cousin took over…
September 10th 2011 @ 11:28am
jamesb said | September 10th 2011 @ 11:28am | Report comment
kersi
maybe Australia in every test match should have someone on debut. it seems to work in this series, with Lyon, Copeland and Marsh
I was a bit miffed with malcolm Conns article yesterday where he described harris a journeyman and Copeland a plodder. You look at harris’ career, its either bowling for South Australia on a batsmans paradise or injuries that have affected his career.
Since he moved to the gabba, and been injury free, he certainly has turned to a complete bowler. Perhaps a late developer. As for Copeland, sure he bowls around 115-125 kays, but he is accurate, does variation with the ball and coming from the height of 2 metres tall, he would get that extra bounce.
who knows with some technical help in his bowling, Copeland may increase his pace by a few extra kays, but ATM, Copeland is doing fine.
Its a great to see 2 opening bowlers for Australia finally putting pressure on the opposition batsman.
Sure its hypothetical, but you wonder if Cook would;ve scored those piles of runs for England if Harris and Copeland opened the bowling for Australia in the Ashes.
Will never know?
September 10th 2011 @ 12:49pm
ANIL VERMA said | September 10th 2011 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Sure they will get their chance and the way Cook is playing you can be sure he will still get the runs.England are having a dream run,albeit against a weakened opposition.India are without 6 quality payers.
September 10th 2011 @ 12:46pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | September 10th 2011 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
We’ll never know, jamesb, whether Harris and Copeland would have made a difference in the Ashes series. These days England has the skill and the steel Sri Lanka lacks.
The question is: who will be dropped from the third Test when Ponting returns? Marsh will retain his place for sure. Khawaja has to score many runs to stay in the team. But then Phil Hughes is an opener. Perhaps then Marsh will open with Watson if Khawaja scores 70+ runs today.
Will Hughes get a chance in the second innings? Australia already lead by 90 runs with seven wickets in hand including overnight not-outs Hussey and Marsh in good nick. An innings victory for Australia is a possibility.
September 10th 2011 @ 12:57pm
sheek said | September 10th 2011 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Hi Kersi,
If Sean Marsh gets to his maiden century in his maiden test, this series will replicate that of 1970/71 when Greg Chappell scored a maiden century in his maiden test & Dennis Lillee took a ‘Michelle ‘(Pfeiffer – 5/84) in his maiden test.
Nathan Lyons has already emulated Lillee’s feat, now we’ll see if Marsh can emulate Chappell’s feat. There’s also a family connection involved in both situations.
Greg was Ian’s younger brother, while Sean is Geoff’s son.
Another Marsh – Rod (unrelated) – also featured in that 1970/71 series. Marsh was 92no in Melbourne when skipper Bill Lawry ungenerously declared Australia’s innings. Marsh was on the verge of becoming the first-ever Aussie keeper to score a century.
Fortunately for ‘Bacchus’ Marsh, he got that opportunity two seasons later against Pakistan in Adelaide.
September 10th 2011 @ 1:31pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | September 10th 2011 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Sheek, let’s hope Shaun Marsh gets his debut century soon and follows in Greg Chappell’s footsteps. A huge ask!
By the way India’s Lala and Surinder Amarnath are the only father and son to score centuries in their Test debut.
September 10th 2011 @ 1:31pm
Harry said | September 10th 2011 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
What a pleasure to see Marsh and Hussey playing patiently, conservatively and correctly. No misguided throwing of their wicket away because “we play aggressively and try to dominate” approach that has been exposed as wrong in the last few years. Australian cricket needs to get back to hard, technically correct (line and length in long spells for the bowlers, proper TEST MATCH strokeplay and technique from the batsmen, improved fielding) before we start trying to “dominate”.
September 10th 2011 @ 2:18pm
jamesb said | September 10th 2011 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
totally agree with you Harry
September 10th 2011 @ 8:36pm
Lolly said | September 10th 2011 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
It was really good to watch. I found it refreshing which shows how used I am to the usual crap that our batsmen serve up in their desire to be attacking. Marsh seemed to have no desire to ‘show off’ at all. It was a most undebutant like performance (bit like Copeland and Lyon in that way, they all seem to have been so business-like).
It will get harder from here, but a fine start for him. His dad must be bursting with pride.
And Hussey was equally as good. They seemed to have a good understanding with their running. It was all very neat and professional. Definitely not what I am used to now!
September 10th 2011 @ 3:08pm
jamesb said | September 10th 2011 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
Aus 3/ 304
Shaun Marsh, century on debut, 100*
Mike Hussey, has also got a century, his 14th test century, 101*
Australia lead by 130 runs, with 7 wickets in hand
September 10th 2011 @ 3:14pm
Kersi Meher-Homji said | September 10th 2011 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Hip, hip, hurray! Well done, boys from WA!
September 10th 2011 @ 3:39pm
jamesb said | September 10th 2011 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
yep kersi its fantastic,
what a partnership this is turning out to be, well over 200
Aus 3/ 337
marsh 106*
hussey 127*
lead by 163 runs
September 10th 2011 @ 4:40pm
jamesb said | September 10th 2011 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
lunch day 3
aus 4 / 378 , lead 204
marsh 130*
khawaja 1*
hussey out for 142