I can’t remember an unveiling of a Champions Trophy squad reverberating in the Australian sports consciousness.
The ICC Champions Trophy is deemed to be the second most prestigious 50-over event in world cricket.
US$2m prize money for the winner is testament to that.
The dirty little secret? The Champions Trophy has never resonated in Australia. This partly can be attributed to the event generally being staged during the fever pitch of the seasons of the Australian football codes, which dominates the landscape down under.
Apathy is due to the Australian public’s scant regard for the lucrative tournament. In other words, the Champions Trophy is consigned into the ‘meaningless’ waste bin. Australian sports fans tune out of perceived insignificant contests.
Few Australians, even ardent cricket fans, would know their team is the two-time defending champions of the event (cut to Aussie fans staring blankly). Most would fail to remember that Australia hoisted the 2009 trophy after defeating New Zealand in the final (cut to Aussie fans looking bewildered).
Announcement of the squad was met with unusual fanfare in the media and public. But, this is indeed an unusual cricket year, with twin Ashes series on the horizon.
Australian supporters aren’t really perturbed about winning the Champions Trophy. Sure, it’s always nice to hoard silverware but more importantly, performances will be crucial in shaping Australia’s bid to reclaim the fragile urn.
The spotlight will no doubt shine brightly on Michael Clarke’s bothersome back, the inconsistent Phil Hughes and the neglected Matthew Wade.
But I’m more focused on the periphery.
When the contentious Ashes squad was announced, Chairman of Selectors John Inverarity hinted that further players could be added.
If Mitch Johnson eradicates his erratic scourge (I know, big if) during the Champions Trophy, it could extend his England journey.
Big scores combined with exhibiting a healthy dose of leadership could earn George Bailey a Baggy Green.
Honestly, what am I most excited about? The Mitch Marsh versus Shane Watson subplot.
This seems premature, for Marsh is just 21 years of age, which coincidentally is his mediocre first class batting average. So, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be thrust into the Ashes cauldron to battle an experienced England attack with just one first class ton under his belt.
But what we do know is that Australia has an obsession with unfurling a genuine all-rounder. This explains the persistence with the Watson delusion.
Watson has represented Australian cricket’s great hope since the tail of the Steve Waugh era. Despite decades of dominance, Australian cricket has been unable to discover a precocious all-rounder since the days of Benaud and Davidson.
While he has carved an ODI and T20 niche as a swashbuckling all-rounder, Watson’s Test career stalled due to a plethora of injuries and inconsistencies. It appeared the chiselled mannequin had been carved of jelly.
When the injury curse reared its ugly head and without a Test ton in three years, Watson’s all-round versatility was eroded when he focused on being a specialist bat. It was a spectacular failure.
Watson has revived his bowling during the IPL in a desperate bid to save his international career in the whites. Playing as a number six all-rounder is set to determine his Test career in England.
But we must take heed from history. Watson will probably struggle with willow and/or succumb to his fragile body.
Eventually, Marsh will receive Watson’s baton of burden. Despite a disappointing IPL, punctuated by a savage Chris Gayle assault, Marsh possesses the all-round talents Australia so desperately craves to help start a climb up the Test tree.
Remember when Andrew Flintoff nearly single-handily eviscerated an all-conquering Australian team in 2005? Well, those apparitions were fleetingly reincarnated by Marsh during the Australian summer.
I’ve seen him scythe high-credentialed batsmen with his 140km/h fury. I’ve witnessed his destructive batting nearly maim spectators.
Sure, these heroics have been consigned to the shorter formats in domestic cricket. But, Marsh is a once in a generation talent. He’s a top six bat capable of opening an attack.
Inevitably, there are question marks. He has already had off-field indiscretions, including an infamous boozy bender in South Africa late last year. Is his temperament a concern? Will he suffer the ‘too rich, too soon’ bane? Is Shaun Marsh’s lack of work ethic genetic?
Honestly, I would start him amid the Ashes intensity. We’ve exhausted our trips to the Watson Well. Australian cricket needs to find new heroes.
Mitch Marsh, over to you.
Philhughesisbes
Guest
Any guy who averages 40 With the bat and 25 with the ball is more than a viable contender, if he can do that he"d be an absolute super star.
Tristan Lavalette
Roar Guru
Cheers mate, appreciate the feedback. It's good to have a sensible debate. After all, would be boring if we all shared the same opinion!
Max Weber
Roar Pro
"Marsh is a once in a generation talent. He’s a top six bat capable of opening an attack." Not sure where this has come from. For all his potential, Marsh has yet to turn any of it into meaningful scores in first class cricket. 36 FC wickets at a merely acceptable average of 25 (in the current Shield climate- over 20 bowlers averaged under 25 this season) and a batting average of 21, with less than 1000 runs scored in 45 innings. I don't at all buy the doom-mongering in some quarters about the national team, but if Marsh were to start in our top 6 in the Ashes, such talk about the "worst ever squad" may be justified. IF he spends 3-4 years averaging above 40 with the bat and around 25 with the ball, he's a viable contender. At the moment, one really has to question his mentality- while he's come out recently and said he's pulled his head in regarding indiscretions, in the same article he said "it was all blown out of proportion"- not exactly a mature comment. Faulkner (and Watson, despite your premise) are still miles ahead in the all-rounder stakes.
lolly
Guest
I think it's as much about how the Marsh boys look when they bat as that their Dad played for Aus. Shaun is the great deceiver on those terms. I don't think they should bother with him in any format for Aus unless absolutely scraping for players.
Praveen
Guest
Bearfax and Tristan you are both correct, pick test batsman for test matches and short form for the the short formats, NSP is doing that now, and Bearfax I think khawaja will get a real go in the ashes and will come through for us
Praveen
Guest
Well said bearfax
Bearfax
Guest
Tristan let me say that I for one appreciate you guys with ROAR raising these issues so that we can discuss them in a public forum. Gets so frustrating when you read utter tripe in some newspapers and you want to respond and cant. You guys give us the opportunity to vent our spleen about issues, and I appreciate that you give us that opportunity. Might not agree with you all the time but that's not the issue is it. Its your willingness to have what you write, discussed, dissected and disputed if we dont agree. That's well appreciated.
Tristan Lavalette
Roar Guru
Not having a go mate, just clarifying my position. I agree with your sentiments. I think Shaun Marsh in particular has had a good ride with the media because he dazzles in the shorter formats. I wouldn't select him in tests. Khawaja has been treated unfairly and deserves a good run. I like Bailey, despite his poor first class record. I just reckon he adds steel and leadership. You're right - Cosgrove shouldn't be discarded.
James
Guest
Why on earth would you pick Marsh above Faulkner? Marsh averages 21 with the bat, Faulkner averages 29 and is a much much better bowler. I'd pick Silk over Marsh. Even though he has only played 3 first class matches, he has more centuries.
Bearfax
Guest
Bit sensitive Tristan, and I wasnt really directing the criticism at you but rather the general love of the Marshs by the media and selectors. Dont dispute the kid has a lot of potential and as I said he could turn into a champion. But as you said...not yet. Khawaja definitely needs to play a succession of test matches and be given freedom of fear of being dropped, a fear he has no doubt following being twice dropped after brief episodes and then being made the perennial 12th man. We've all, including the selectors, got to see if the kid is the goods. I suspect he is but we wont know if they continuously fail to play him for more than an occasional game. I dont think Bailey is consistent enough for test cricket at first class level. However of another batsman, I know he's fat and slow and ponderous in the field but I would like to see Cosgrove given a chance. I would first put him on a strict diet (get him away from his hamburgers, fried chicken and pastas) and a severe training regime for about 6 months. The guy has a great eye and power and a good first class average. with the right guidance I think he could be a 50+ average first class player. He has serious elements of another Lehmann
Tristan Lavalette
Roar Guru
The premise of the story was that Australia has had an infatuation with unearthing an all-rounder for an eternity, and if they're going down that road, I would rather punt with 21-yr-old Marsh then 31-yr-old Watson. Personally, I wouldn't play either in the First Test and would go with - Khawaja and Bailey in the middle order
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Firstly, it is not just Australia that sees the Champions Trophy as pointless. If anybody valued it, this would not be the last scheduled time for it to be run (according to the Future Tours Program). And its only being run this time because various TV deals required it, and the rights holders were not prepared to broadcast a Test Championship Final instead. Perhaps more importantly, as others have already said, using limited overs form to potentially add to the Ashes squad is fraught with danger. Part-timers can often do a job in the limited game, because there is only scope to perform a part time role. Look at somebody like Shane Watson, his limited overs form has been alright, his long game form abysmal and heshould not be in the Ashes squad. George Bailey has got better in the 50 over game, and probably should have been dropped by Tassie in the Shield. Xavier Doherty has played four Tests, all on the back of limited overs international form and looked lost every time. The value of this tournament is not the tournament itself, and certainly not a guide to Ashes form, but the World Cup - the only time limited overs results count for anything - will be little more than 18 months away. For guys like Mitch Marsh it is a chance to press a claim for that, but should have virtually zero impact on Test selection. It is a chance to get used to touring and being around a national set-up, but beyond that has little value for Tests. He is also a long way from being in the best six batsmen or among the best four bowlers, so his Test credentials should not even be looked at at this point.
Dcnz
Guest
The Aussie media and public may not care for the Champions Trophy but there will be some great cricket played and the participants will be playing for their international careers ...plus there will be about four hundred million interested people in the sub continent ....
Bearfax
Guest
Spot on Rabbtz and I have been beating that drum for a long time now. The suggestion that Inverarity and co should add a one day player to the Ashes team if he performs well is pure folly. That was one of the failings of the Indian tour where a bunch of all rounders, well performed at the short form of the game were selected, while better performed players at the longer form of the game were ignored. But the selectors had been doing this time and again with S. Marsh, Voges, Quiney, Christian, Bailey, Maxwell et al for test cricket based on one day and T20 efforts and they have consistently failed. Meanwhile others with solid first class averages like Khawaja, Cosgrove, Burns, Okeefe, Rogers et al were being ignored. Sheer folly and amateurism by the selectors that even an average supporter of the game can see is flawed. But getting back to the actual one day tournament, its obvious the media's and selectors love affair with the Marsh brothers continues, with these recent news articles. Lets get it in perspective. S. Marsh is a fine one day and T20 player and would be in this team if not injured. But at almost 30, he has shown he doesnt have the temperament for the longer form of the game and should not be selected unless over say a two year period he shows more discipline in his first class performances and gets his average at least over the 40 mark. Mitchell Marsh is a different story. Being only 21.he has the world at his feet...but he is still a kid and not yet ready for international cricket at any level. His first class bowling is good, batting poor. Like his brother, his batting is better in the short form of the game where defence and discipline are not so necessary. But he could be a champion player, but not yet. And there are many al rounders ahead of him at this stage who shouldnt fall under the lost in the glow of the 'Marsh' name, which frankly shouldnt be so revered given the Marsh boy's father was only an average test opener, not much better than Cowan. Smith,Henriques, Faulkner,even Maxwell are ahead of him for a test all rounder's spot should Watson fail. Lets not be blinded by the media and selector love of the Marsh brothers and treat them only with the same regard we do for any other cricketer..
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
There are so many things wrong with themes in this article. One thing you got right is that no-one except the players and administrators care. To my mind this is exactly the correct amount of disdain which the Champions Trophy competition deserves. The really big issue I have with your premise is that you have made the same mistake our illustrious selection panels have made over the last few years. It is not wise to use misty eyed perceptions of a players ability in one form of the game to assess how that player will perform in another. In other words just because someone is good at one of the hit and giggle games, and plays in a tin pot hit and giggle tournament does not give you any indicator of the players ability or mind-set in the real game.
Lolly
Guest
Mitchell Marsh won't be in the starting 11 for the Champion's League as there is no room for him. And the Aussies might not get through to the next round. There are already two all-rounders in the Ashes squad, you'd hope like hell that if they wanted to add someone, it would be another batsman with a half-decent first class average. Voges or Bailey would have more chance than Marsh of joining the Ashes squad especially if they do well in the Champion's League.