Marsh will come right in time: Arthur

While I agree broadly that Marsh over Khawaja is a bit odd, I think these analyses make a bit more sense if you look at Marsh (and Cowan's) stats over the past two years instead of whole of career. Both men in form. But Khawaja has been as well of course.

Is Shaun Marsh the new Mitchell Johnson? I bet Arthur can't wait to get both of his pets playing alongside each other.

Arthur will push for Johnson's return when he's fit.

I agree, the repeated dropping of Khawaja must be playing on his mind. Sure, he wasn't setting the world on fire, but he wasn't failing either. And not to have a go at Marsh, but how come he can be brought back after one T20 game and everyone else seems to need a few proper games under their belt?

The NZ's have planted Robbie Deans to beat us in Rugby no SA have done it in cricket!

A question of Argus and Micky Arthur. Are you setting the stage for South Africa (and most other teams) to gain the ascendency over Oz. Did you really come to Oz to coach our team to 'WIN' Micky . 'Cause your batting selections dont seem to bear that out.

Someone in Argus has obviously been on the tonic. Let me say that Shaun Marsh is a good first class cricketer....but unless there's something I havent seen Argus wants Oz to sink to the bottom of the ratings if he is the basis of Oz for the next decade. Young Mitchell Marsh, as I mentioned before, may have the potential, but he has at least 2 years to rippen. Though I acknowledge that Pattinson, Cummins and Paine (or Wade) appear at this stage future long term test players, I find their assessment of the Marsh brothers at this stage mind boggling. To me Khawaja and Warner show big promise (I accept its early days but they have the proverbial runs on the first class cricket board). I think Hughes will be back in a year or two. There's a few rising batting stars in Queensland and then there may be young Patterson, the Penrith based batsman. No doubt there will be a few more to surface in a year or two. So where do you fit a 38.5 first class averaging Shaun Marsh in that mix. Several of those batters already have averages well in excess of SM. Sorry but somone has been on the turps or is related to the lad.

I heard yesterday that Shaun marsh is one of 5 cricketers the Argus report listed as forming the backbone of our team for the next 10 years. Who were the other 4? Well, Mitchell Marsh was one of them, believe it or not. How they can decide in advance who will be our best players over a 10-year period baffles me. Both Marsh brothers? The other 3 were better choices with Pattinson, Cummins and Tim Paine.

Hmm looks like I linked the wrong article, oh well, there is one where I did contrast and compare Marsh and Khawaja.

I probably think way too much about these things, but recently the thought came to mind that 'Argus' is an anagram of 'sugar'. I wonder if in time people will conclude that the perceived 'strong medicine' findings of the review are little more than a lolly water placebo, engineered to diffuse media and public pressure. If it proves to be so, and the same old embedded bad habits continue to erode away at the foundations of Australian cricket, can we really be surprised given a former chartered accountant has overseen the rehabilitation process.

Cowan's average is hardly any more outstanding than Marsh and over that period of time, really, surely both should have worked it out alot better by now. I agree with Bearfax re better value and importanatly, longevity from Khawaja. These stats also just go to show it must be a personal reference to have Marsh rather than the more solid Khawaja.

Yeah I guess it pays to have been coached by the new national coach at state level.

I've also found it astonishing that Marsh was hailed as a saviour. I even posted my most recent Roar article about it. http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/12/20/give-usman-khawaja-more-time-to-shine/ Marsh has 59 Shield matches at 38.30 over 10 years with only 6 centuries (20 half-centuries). His overall first-class average (includes tests and tour games and English county cricket) is 38.44. Khawaja has 26 Shield matches at 53.51 over 4 years with 7 centuries (9 half-centuries which makes his conversion rate much much better than Marsh's). His overall first-class average (includes test and tour games and English county cricket) is 45.15. Even with a slow start to his test career (as opposed to Marsh's century on debut) his average still significantly out-strips Marsh's. Just for comparison because Bearfax mentioned him. Cowan has 47 Shield matches at 35.90 over 7 years with 9 centuries (10 half-centuries). He has done much better since moving to Tasmania (26 matches at 44.55). His overall first-class average is 39.64. Stats from Cricket Archive.

I'm annoyed at what seems nepotism in the issue regarding Khawaja and S.Marsh. and the media is as much to blame as the selectors. For me as I've said before, statistics dont lie. And Shaun Marsh is not the re-incarnation of his great father Geoff. So lets look at them Shaun Marsh has played 122 first class innings at an average of 38.44. He has scored 7 centuries in that time ( a century every 17 innings). Hardly a player you would be selecting for a test team. But he gets selected in the test team ahead of Khawaja after the latter, for reasons never made clear after only a hand full of test innings. Yet Khawajz has been one of the shining lights in first class batting for the last few years having played 71 innings at 45.15 with 9 centuries in that period (a century every 8 innings, or over twice Marsh's century frequency). Marsh certainly took his opportunity scoring 141 in his first test innings and 81 in his second ...and suddenly all the cricket world are raving about him being the great saviour of Oz No 3 position. But what have been his innings since then. They are 18, 44, 0, 0, 3 and 0. In fact if you take away that well compiled 141 from Marsh's averages, in his last 7 imnnings he has been scoring at an average of 21. His present test average is bolstered by that big century but is still only 35.87. Though Khawajas average after 11 innings is only 29.22, if you take his highest score away (65) its higher than Marsh's without his top score at 25. Khawaja has had the monkey on his back since he started his test career. He was dropped after only a few tests (even though the whole batting squad was also failing) and his return was as a 'replacement' for wonderboy Marsh and so he was under pressure and lack of support from the start and I believe his form suffered. Add to that Ponting running him out when he seemed well on the way to a big one (not blaming Ponting...it happens...but didnt help Khawaja's plight). Khawaja (aged 25) is an outstanding talent with a growing and creditable first class average who needs to be brought into the test team, prtobably at No. 5 and allowed to develop his test skills. Marsh (aged 28.5 years) is a good first class batsman with a better than average first class average but hardly at his age a test quality batsman. I suggested several tests ago when Khawaja was dropped that Marsh's test performance up till then was an aberation, and that also applies to Cowan with a first class average around 35. They'll perform reasonably well at test level but their first class averages are likely to be duplicated at test level and they wont win you more than an occasional match. Khawaja, if given the chance will win you a lot of matches. So go figure. Geoff Marsh was a fine test batsman but his son is not at his level (maybe the younger son could be later on). The media and selectors have got to stop selecting on the basis of the afterglow of paternal achievements and start giving some of our young future sars an extended chance to develop against test class oposition. Or are we going to see yet another travesty in selections that led to Brad Hodge, a potential test great, being snubbed because of some unjustified bias. .

Arthur plays favourites yet again! "He has been a little out of touch but form’s temporary, class is permanent" what sort of unbiased comment is that from an Australian coach. So much for any players who have recently been deemed good enough to get what used to be a "prized and treasured baggy green cap" only to be dropped after 2 or 3 tests - Copeland (didn't do anything wrong, too slow for you hey Mickey, even though he takes wickets, already knows about proper & very consistent line/length - doesn't need to be taught it like others around this group for years), Khawaja (yep, didn't take his chances but was worth more support), Starc (not at all ready for test cricket is agreed in this case) or those trying to get in to the squad. Are they going to drop Warner and Cowan after a few failures too, you can't tell me Warner is a better long format player than Khawaja. Why should they get more chances to fail one has to ask, oh, they are class too, yes? Get real!! Mickey, surely should think more before he says these comments: proper "Class" in a batsman is proving yourself through scoring hundreds of runs for years and years not one or 2 tests then 4 failures. Class is Tendulkar, Taylor, Waugh. I also don't see how they can select Starc in the Perth squad when he has had very little match play for weeks, yet the reason they left Copeland out of the Gabba test v NZ was he wasn't match fit from being 12th man in SA...what the...I'm very confused so I have no doubt the players themselves must be, and very disillusioned too. Oh yeah, 20/20 cricket is the answer to show Test readiness...kidding surely. In regard to bais, let's watch how long it takes for Arthur's best buddy and favoured project player, Coutler-Nile to arrive in the Test squad. Then it will confirm his favourtism for certain players as he has not done anything of note to make his way quickly to that level, bit like Starc, but he has a left arm to bowl with so I guess that helped his cause at the time. What are these selectors thinking really, isn't Test cricket about picking your best and most effective bowlers not just what arm they bowl with. NSW don't even pick Starc for Shield matches consistently... And here lies one of the main problems during our Test summer, no First Class cricket for anyone to show they are ready should a chance/injuires come up, great move Cricket Australia, go for the cash instead.

The eight (that Arthur is referring to) includes Shane Watson and Dan Christian. Despite the fact Christian is a hack with a record not even my sister would be proud of Arthur loves the guy for some reason. For whatever reason Arthur has decided that Khawaja is not ready yet. My gut feeling is that he's ear-marked as Ponting's replacement (just as Paine is earmarked as Haddin's replacement) and Ponting hasn't retired yet therefore there's no room for Khawaja. It's a backwards and stupid way to do things but it is probably reality in Cricket Australia selections - there's no other means to explain why Ponting wasn't dumped after the Ashes, or why Haddin is still dropping catches behind the stumps instead of languishing behind Nevil in the NSW camp.

Actually, in Marsh's favour is the fact that he has gotten worse in every test he's played to date. It will be really hard to be worse than his last test unless he gets a king pair in Perth.

Wouldn't Marsh be the first to go anyway when Watson is fit?

Precisely. It's the same boys' club mentality that was apparent during the Ashes, and it will exist indefinitely while it provides the means for faltering incumbents to obtain such hero worship that they're rendered undroppable.

Someone should ask Arthur why Khawaja has been able to perform consistently at Shield level while his man Marsh hasn't.