This week, media sources have exploded over the selection of Shaun Marsh to tour South Africa at the expense of George Bailey. Many have pointed to the good form of Phil Hughes and Cameron White, and the comparatively poor form of Marsh.
However, it wasn’t long ago that the Australian public, and no doubt the National Selection Panel, were considering this very question – only it concerned recent Ashes man of the series Mitchell Johnson.
Everyone knew what Johnson could bring to the table – ferocious speed, devastating bounce and valuable lower-order hitting.
Everyone knew that when he was on-song, he could take the game away from the English, as he had done before at the WACA some time ago.
In 2008, Johnson showcased just how destructive he could be by blowing away the Proteas in Perth with a spell of 8/41.
In the 2010/11 Ashes series, Johnson once again took apart England’s batting order, taking 6/38, also at the WACA.
With performances like these, anyone would expect that his selection in this Ashes series was a no-brainer, and that he would be among the first players picked.
However, Johnson’s lack of consistency was simply too much for the selectors to overlook.
In the first Test of that 2010/11 Ashes series at the Gabba, Johnson’s erratic bowling returned shocking figures of 0/170 and was subsequently dropped for the following match.
His astonishing comeback has been well publicised, as he blew away the English batting order, taking 37 wickets in total, while also contributing vital runs.
There weren’t many people backing Johnson before the series opener, most of them believing his inconsistent bowling could cost Australia the Ashes.
There were even calls for him to only be selected to play in Perth, since the WACA seemed to be the only ground in Australia he performed well at.
The Barmy Army were licking their lips when news of Johnson’s call up rose, certain he would once again gift the English big runs.
So if Johnson was able to prove so many people wrong, why can’t Shaun Marsh?
Even though Johnson’s selection may have been more of a calculated one than Marsh’s, I hope that he can be afforded the backing of the Australian public, at least until the end of the South African tour.
I’m a firm believer that Marsh has the potential to take the game away from any bowling attack and consolidate a spot in the Australian top order, regardless of his age.
And apparently John Inverarity shares this view.
In my opinion, anyone who can score a century in their Test debut, deserves a second crack to fulfil their potential.
He hasn’t exactly been knocking the selector’s door down on the domestic scene, but he’s done it before on the international stage, and I don’t see why he can’t do it again.
In his defence, he has played 35 more first-class games than Alex Doolan, who was also selected for the tour, and averages just under three runs less.
Additionally, he has only played seven Tests, so it’s not as though he’s been tried and tested for any great amount of time.
This is how heroes are made – Mitchell Johnson has proven that – and I would love nothing more than to see Marsh decimate the fast bowling trio of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander on their home turf.
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