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The first Test between Australia and South Africa begins tomorrow, with Mitch Marsh looking to take the all-rounders place, batting at 6 and bowling quite a bit with the expectation of Mitch Starc being undercooked and needing reprieve.
This is all very good and well, until you consider Marsh’s form of late, which gives little confidence of his ability as a batsman or a bowler.
Jackson Bird was apparently not picked because selectors didn’t rate his ability with the bat, which makes you wonder what Marsh is being picked for given he can’t seem to do either.
With this in mind, I’ve identified the Top five alternatives to Marsh as the number 6.
1. Travis Head
Remember when Australia had middle-order batsmen who could score centuries, look good doing it, and bowl a bit of spin to relieve the main bowlers? You know, when we had players like Darren Lehmann, Andrew Symonds and Mark Waugh coming in at 5 or 6?
Call me crazy, but those were the days when we used to win a lot of cricket, and there may be something to having more run scoring options in the side.
Head is a very good batsman who can bowl a bit, but probably shouldn’t be picked for it. Further, he is only 22 years of age and could have a long role in the team ahead of him. Getting a prolonged run at 6 could set him up better than ditching smashed avo helps new home buyers.
2. John Hastings
‘The Duke’ is arguably the best and most reliable international all-rounder in Australia at the moment. He regularly takes wickets in ODIs and can be relied upon to guide the team home in chases or hit it out.
More of a bowling all-rounder than a batting all rounder, he is a genuine chance to take wickets (he was once picked in a Test as a bowler) and can bowl long spells.
While not the most graceful person to have picked up a cricket bat, Hastings can keep his head and compile innings, rather than simply swipe at every ball like someone at the checkout at Coles.
3. Marcus Stoinis
Stoinis plays with a bat that is so straight that Tony Abbott feels very comfortable in its company. Coming in higher up the order for Victoria, Stoinis could provide some stability and reliability in the middle overs.
He also bowls quickly and consistently, if unspectacularly, and at 27 years of age has plenty of upside to offer.
4. Glenn Maxwell
‘The Big Show’ is similar to Marsh in many ways, with seemingly unending and unfulfilled talent that commentators insist on talking about until you repeat it to yourself in your sleep.
Maxwell has little Test experience, but has been used primarily as a top order batsman. Batting with in the middle orders may force Maxwell to take some responsibility and bat sensibly. Also, he can play spin pretty well, which is generally of benefit to a middle order bat.
His spin is nothing to write home about, or even email, but he is primarily being picked to bat and help provide the main bowlers with a rest.
5. Shaun Marsh
A controversial pick, but one that ensures that at least one of the Marsh brothers is picked in the side, something selectors seem to feel very strongly about.
Like Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh is an excellent player of spin and seems to prosper when there is less pressure (e.g. against the West Indies side that was offered up last summer), so like the US Army, could be more successful coming in closer to the end than the beginning.
While he doesn’t provide a bowling option, that is hardly a change from what his brother is doing now.
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