Adelaide has done it again. India provided another dramatic day of Test cricket thanks to the precocious talent of stand-in skipper Virat Kholi and great support from reliable opener Murali Vijay, who pushed Australia all the way.
However, spinner Nathan Lyon exorcised some demons by finally producing a match-winning fourth innings display, claiming 7 wickets and a career-best 12 for the match.
It was a Test that Australia dominated. India’s threadbare bowling attack only picked up 12 wickets in two innings with the Australians bowling them out twice. But while Kholi was in they were always a chance.
It was a baptism of fire for Brad Haddin as Australian captain for large portions of the last day, with Michael Clarke’s ailing body letting him down again.
He has torn a hamstring and even admitted after the match that his playing future is not certain.
With Clarke out, Shaun Marsh, who was on standby for Adelaide after making a century in the previous Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia against Victoria, will return to Test cricket. He has had a stop-start career so far due to injury and spasmodic form.
He made 55 and 11 in the last Shield match, but batted at five when he most likely won’t bat any lower than four at the Gabba.
As mentioned, his form is solid with a 50 and a century in two of his last three innings, but has he been knocking the door down like Tasmanian Ed Cowan? Cowan has four hundreds in the first half of the season, including a century in each innings of Tasmania’s comprehensive thrashing of South Australia during the week.
Cowan last played a Test in the 2013 Ashes series at Trent Bridge, but had a double failure batting at number three after all his previous Tests had been as an opener.
Chris Rogers, despite a top score of 48 in his last Test innings, has been retained to partner the rampaging David Warner for Brisbane, but Cowan is in the best form of the players not in the Test side at the moment.
If Rogers’ run of outs were to continue next week, surely Cowan must be considered to return at his expense, even though his average is under 35 with just one century in Test cricket.
There is also the issue, but it shouldn’t be one, of whether he fits into the culture of the current Australian cricket team. Everyone in the media loves Cowan for his frankness, friendliness, eloquence and the fact that he doesn’t give cliched answers. They are all well thought-through and he always has something to say. He is not unpopular in the dressing room, but he seems to be an opposite to coach Darren Lehmann.
Boof loves Shaun Marsh as he can be one of the lads like his brother Mitch, Warner, Ryan Harris, Clarke, Haddin and even Rogers.
Since Steve Waugh became captain, and it continued under Ricky Ponting, some players have seemingly been selected because they fit into the culture of the dressing room. If it was a line ball in a selection battle between two players, where there may have been doubts about one’s capacity to fit in, it was a no brainer.
Former Victorian star batsman Brad Hodge appeared to be one who was cost several Test appearances due to that selection policy, along with Queenslander Stewie Law.
Going back almost 40 years to the 1975-76 West Indies series in Australia, a young Victorian, Graham Yallop, was in good form and got chosen for the fourth Test in Sydney at the expense of Rick McCosker, who had a top score of just 22 not out in in the first three Tests.
His teammates, like the Chappells, Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee, were angry that McCosker had been dropped, claiming he had already earned his stripes after dominating the previous tour of England that Australian winter. Yallop said later he wasn’t made to feel very welcome, even though his performances were solid for the rest of the series.
If the selectors were picking on form and pure volume of runs for a middle order player, Western Australia captain Adam Voges must be right up there. He did a Cowan, Warner and Kholi when smashing a hundred in each innings of last week’s Shield match in Perth.
There are younger middle order prospects in better form than Marsh, like Queenslander Joe Burns and South Australian Callum Ferguson, but Marsh seems to be the right mix for this team and gets the nod to play his first Test with his brother.
Let’s hope he bats much better than the last time he played against India in a Test series in Australia in 2011-2012, when he hardly made a run.
Clavers
Guest
I am not a Shaun Marsh booster but his form this season does present a case for his selection. Has has made two Shield centuries and another in an Under23 match. That said, Joe Burns' number look better, not just this season but going back a couple of seasons. When Clarke returns I think Marsh should be drooped and Burns retained.
Whatever
Guest
Shaun Marsh scored 32 and 16 at the Gabba. Hardly off to a good start. He better score heavily in Melbourne or he should be dropped. At 31, he is running low on chance with Burns, Maddinson, Silk and Whiteman all in contention. Heck at this point even Mitchell Starc looks better and he's a 'bowler'.
Bfc
Guest
AB...aka "captain grumpy" has suggested that there is an overemphasis on gym work (some our bowlers are as muscled as our contact sports plates...) in lieu of actually bowling as a form of conditioning. Even in football (soccer..) purely running/ gym work is only a focus in the pre season and then the conditioning is football based, so maybe cricket needs to reconsider how pace bowlers are conditioned. Harris needs to play as he always applies pressure from his end, and Starc may be the unlucky one to miss out....unless the selectors decide to 'rest' Hazlewood! As far as Shaun Marsh is concerned...he must be just about on his 'last chance' as he has not threatened to make a big score, and cannot throw or bowl. Players like Joe Burns must be a chance? Rogers scored a vital half century so Cowan may need to wait a bit longer, but Watson is again showing he is not a Test #3, but can he be relied upon to be a bowling all rounder in the middle order or is he still likely to break down if required to bowl a lot of overs. Haddin needs to score some runs...a few keeper/batsmen knocking on the selectors door! Pity Khawaja is injured as he was also scoring a lot of runs in all formats.
Ramesh
Guest
I totally agree with your comments.
Ramesh
Guest
There is no doubt that Shaun Marsh’s selection is another case of jobs for the boys. There are many better players in the the Australian domestic arena in my view, but have not been selected, even though the Marsh bothers namely Shaun has been selected. I suppose mediocre performances will see that Shaun is quickly axed from the national team, and Mitch Marsh will be in competition with Shane Watson for the batting all rounder's position. I suppose time will answer one's question about the Marsh brothers.
ausi
Guest
Marsh is going to have to have a monster batting performance. "Cant catch, cant throw" - he's a liability. Cowan - excellnt run, but is he just short of test standard? Bowlers - they are not fit - folded under a bit of Brisbane heat today - too much emphahsis on the skills of the physio - I'm not sure i would want him looking after me. Get an AFL or ARL fitness coach - Starc and Co have obviously not done enough work - cramps, torn muscles - sack the "fitness" people first.
Bearfax
Guest
He's not a good chess player shortfineleg.. No strategic nous in his play. Keeps sacrificing his king to protect a pawn.
Shortfineleg
Guest
Bearfax, never expect an honest argument from Don Freo.
Bearfax
Guest
Thanks mum and dad for your support.
Bearfax
Guest
I mean an establishment that's got its wires crossed
13th Man
Roar Pro
But Voges has the runs on the board, he may not be as 'classy' as Marsh but he is scoring more runs. And I believe JL asked Marsh to bat at 3 last week instead of Beaton but Marsh chose not too. He wants to bat at 5.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Haha gold!
mark
Guest
In a word, yes. His first class record does not warrant selection and never has. If he had a different last name he wouldn't have got a look in.
Bearfax
Guest
Tsk tsk Don. You again misquote me. I never said he wasnt in form. Read what I said again. I did however point out that its effectively based on two innings. As for the article being about Marsh. No. The article is about whether Marsh deserves his place and is his selection a job for the boys. In that sense we are responding. I am saying despite being in good form, there are others who should have been considered before him based both on form and averages. In that sense this looks very much like a job for the boys, a selection by favouritism rather than overall performance. And that Don is what this article is about. I'll say it again Don so its clear. I have nothing personal against Shaun Marsh. He's a talented cricketer. My opinions are purely based on performance, immediate and long term. If Shaun Marsh had a first class average of 45 I would be fully supporting his inclusion in the Australian test side. In other words I dont look at the name I look at the averages, performances, outcomes and that determines my support for a specific player, not because I like him or think he's classy or think he's got the perfect batting style. Those things are important, yes to attract people to cricket. But they arent going to win you a test. And that's where performance and outcomes are paramount.
Don Freo
Guest
There is no indication anywhere that suggests the form of others is not impressive. Just don't deny Marsh's figures are also impressive. I have been speaking about Marsh...as has the article...You are throwing up the other names. You are arguing that Marsh is not in form and doesn't deserve selection. You have made one statement I will agree with; "I totally agree that the selectors know a damned lot more than I do..." Just watch the game and you can celebrate should he fail...as certain disappointing Australians are wont to do.
Don Freo
Guest
I love to know on what you base your understanding that Shaun Marsh has done no work. You can have Ed Cowan...I'll take Mark Waugh every day. That encapsulates the folly of the 'consistency argument'.
Bearfax
Guest
They got it lucky Bob. And in my mind the jury is still out. No question of Mitch Marsh's potential, just a little concerned its too early and he shouldnt be there if they are persisting with Watson. The selectors have been lucky they had some star performers in recent years who've saved their bacon like Hussey, Ponting, Clarke, Smith, Warner, Johnson and Harris and a purple patch with Haddin. because some of their selections covering other positions have been nonsensical.. They've got away with it because those other players have been so dominant and covered up the deficiencies. But a check of many of the others they have selected show failure after failure especially in the batting lineup. The present batting line up for example looks very vulnerable to me if Warner and Smith dont fire. Just have to hope the Indians cant handle the Brisbane pitch.
Shortfineleg
Guest
Selection is not a zero sum game. People miss out, and it affects them. Shaun Marsh may get some runs. But his selection has hampered more deserving players.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
So by "same group in general" you must mean "a number of different groups", yes?
The Bush
Roar Guru
At first I thought this whole S Marsh love-in thing was just you being funny and sarcastic with a love of all things WA, but I am starting to think you honestly believe that Shaun Marsh is a fantastic cricketer who deserves above all others to be in this side. Do you honestly believe that a 31 year old with a FC average of 36 deserves selection in the Australian side as a specialist batsman over any number of the younger talents with averages in the 40s?