Like most, I was baffled at the decision to include Shaun Marsh in the squad for the inaugural day-night Test. And even after his gritty and timely 49 played a big part in securing victory on Sunday evening, I’m still not convinced.
I’m sure many would share my fear of him producing some bigger scores against the West Indies and justifying his place in the side even longer.
Although I wouldn’t guarantee it. Despite how raw and brittle this West Indian batting may prove to be this series, we know their bowling attack can at least be classified as international quality (for the sake of the contest I hope).
Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach, in particular, may cause some havoc, Jason Holder bowls tidy medium pace as a third seamer, and while Devandra Bishoo mightn’t be the absolute best spinner the Caribbean has to offer, he’s impressed since debuting in 2011.
This attack will have plenty of work to do in the coming weeks and will need to be mighty effective to give their side any chance.
With Mitchell Marsh’s struggles with the bat in this series, it’s common knowledge right now that he simply needs runs, despite how much of an impact he has had with the ball – especially in the second innings at Adelaide when his side had one less quick bowling option. But his ability to score has dried up horrendously for someone wishing to be considered a genuine number six at Test level.
I’m not sure if I’d play both Marsh brothers in Hobart or any of the West Indies matches for that matter. And I wish to put forward one name that has been thrown around every now again on this site – Callum Ferguson.
A batting candidate in a good patch of form to bolster the middle order right now would be tempting. Not only does Ferguson have international experience under his belt since 2009 (30 ODIs and three Twenty20s), he has been tracking along beautifully this summer at domestic level.
Fresh off a sublime double-century earning him man of the match honours against a Tasmanian attack not to be sneezed at – featuring Hobart Test hopeful Jackson Bird, Andrew Fekete, and exciting young quick Sam Rainbird – Ferguson’s Test dream may never be fulfilled if it doesn’t happen soon.
Prior to the superb knock down in Hobart, his numbers in the Sheffield Shield have admittedly been nothing too outstanding – his 96 against New South Wales the only score above 40 in the next month to follow. But his unsuccessful shot at another first-class hundred was a classy knock against a Test match strength Blues attack, and a couple of well-compiled half-centuries in the Matador Cup haven’t hurt him either.
When set Ferguson can be a quite gorgeous and easy batsman to watch, with a complete array of shots, and he is the type of clever batsman that can adjust this to any format.
Injuries along the journey have never helped his ambitions to play Test cricket, yet his form flourished in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 domestic seasons, with a Sheffield Shield average touching 50.
And what would it also mean? A batsman picked in the national Test side with a first-class average in the 40s. We know this isn’t always the case.
Selecting anyone over 30 can be a gamble, and Ferguson is now 31 and someone who it feels like has honestly been around forever. But if anything it’s been a maturing process for a man who is now ready to take the next step up.
At 31 Ferguson even finds himself slightly younger than Shaun Marsh, and Mike Hussey showed all of us that being a late bloomer isn’t uncommon.
Don Freo
Guest
Brad Hogg smashed 260 in club cricket only 2 years ago. Not a great measure.
ajay
Guest
"Lynn in the mix once he’s back playing Shield and making runs" spot on,no problem with "making runs" but huge problem with once he’s back playing Shield(last year he was out and same story in 2015) i am huge lynn fan and he's better than stoinis but injuries and he'll back for big bash.maybe in odi side and than in test?
ajay
Guest
how ??chris lynn (4 year younger than him ) and better avz consistent injuries otherwise for me he's best after warner and smith. and surely better than marsh boys.he smashed 258 in club cricket a couple of days ago.hopefully in odi team and than in test?
ajay
Guest
how ??chris lynn (4 years younger than him ) and better avz consistent injuries otherwise for me he's best after warner and smith. and surely better than marsh boys.he smashed 258 in club cricket a couple of days ago.hopefully in odi team and than in test?
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Did you see Patterson's knock of 80 odd in a poor Blues display against Tassie?? Shaun Marsh scores a lot of tons in between scores of 0, 2, 4, 1, 5 etc.
Ron Swanson
Guest
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
I was simply making the point that 40 should really be the minimum first class average for a batsmen to even be considered for test cricket. All these other guys had averages under 40 and failed as test batsmen. Ferguson has been in that category too and only his double century gets him over the line. A decade of under achievement should not be rewarded because of one double century. If he makes 3 or 4 hundreds this summer then I think a case could potentially be stated for him. But an average of just over one century a summer for a 12 years means he's probably made his score for the summer and will be back to failures and a few half centuries for the rest. If he proves me wrong good luck to him, but history suggests he won't. As far as the Adelaide Oval goes, it traditionally see's higher scoring games because of favourable batting conditions. So yes, if I was comparing Ferguson to someone else with a similar record it would come into consideration. As far as the bowlers you mentioned we have pretty good depth in bowling, but I would have been more than happy for Sayers (who has a far superior record to Putland and Mennie) to get picked for this test. I would have left out Coulter-Nile and Boland for Bird and Sayers.
AREH
Roar Guru
DF I have nothing personal against Shaun Marsh I simply worry about him putting together some bigger scores against a weaker attack in the West Indies - albeit a dangerous one - probably keeps him in the side for a lot longer, and I was in the 'against' camp at his original selection. It's basically me, I'm sure like a few here, feeling uneasy about Marsh in the side long term after feeling his selection wasn't justified in the first place and rather off the back of potential, hope, a great Matador Cup and a test average in the 30s skewed by two big centuries, both outside Australia.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
If Australia were looking to introduce a new batsman into Tests now I'd be heavily favouring Stoinis or Handscomb, with Lynn in the mix once he's back playing Shield and making runs. Over the past 3 Shield seasons, Stoinis has made 1423 runs at 51, and that's despite only making 2 centuries in that time which shows how consistently he makes useful scores. Over the same period, Handscomb has made 1477 runs at 45, with four tons. At 26 and 24yo respectively they both look to have improvement left in them and are really starting to flourish into quality FC batsmen.
Quitwhinging
Guest
Centuries this shield season Maddinson : 1 Patterson: 0
Don Freo
Guest
Why would you be "fearful" of Marsh getting bigger scores, Ryan? Wanting to justify a prejudice?
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
I actually think the answer to your question depends on the success of the most recent additions to the top 6. If Khawaja and Burns succeed and cement their spots, then when Voges retires you can afford to bring in a young bloke like Handscomb, Stoinis, Lynn or Maddinson. If Khawaja or Burns flop and are replaced with another younger, inexperienced batsman, then maybe when Voges retires, you replace him with a more experienced batsman like Ferguson. I don't question Ferguson has the numbers and the temperament to make it, but we need to take the opportunity to give young players a chance to make it and I would argue that Handscomb and Stoinis have as much to offer as Ferguson, and if Lynn can stay fit, he probably would too. Maddinson needs a full consistent shield season to join those three. No one else comes close except 35 year old Klinger.
VivGilchrist
Guest
You know nothing about cricket. Firstly, we need to subtract double hundreds from a players record as if they never happened and then you hit us with the "Adelaide Oval Theory" that runs made there are just a given. Going by that theory SA bowlers should be in the Aussie XI. After all Sayers, Putland, and Mennie all have good records bowling on a batsmans paradise.
Brian
Guest
We have to accept that if Shaun scores a single 50 in any of the WI tests that he will probably stay in the side at the expense of Khawaja or Burns. I don't like it one bit, but the selectors seem to have some sort of twisted fascination with the man.
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Chris Lynn, daylight second. Young NSW kid Patterson looks one for the future, sound technique and values his wicket unlike Maddinson who continues to frustrate. Handscombe and Stoinis are also on the radar no doubt along with Alex Ross from SA. Ferguson, Klinger etc. good old pro's but it's time to look beyond a 3-4 year stop gap. Too many failures in and out of the side at that age bracket, Bailey, Shaun Marsh, Doolan, Quiney etc.
Bucko
Guest
If he keeps knocking up 200's he will... He should play all 3 formats for Aus once Voges goes.
AlanKC
Guest
The good news regarding Lynn is that he peeled off 270 odd in club cricket on the weekend, so he appears to be well on the road to recovery.
John
Guest
Fergie is probably a few down the pecking order at the moment but 1 thing Ferguson does have that Shaun Marsh doesn't is he is the No 1 batsman for his state. Why the selectors keep picking Shaun Marsh baffles me he isn't even in the top 3 batsman for WA. Voges, Klinger and Bancroft all have better first class records and I think all are better batsman than Shaun Marsh. Agree with others though Chris Lynn should be next in line for selection the bloke looks the real deal.
My2cents
Guest
I origionally thought that he should have been picked over Mitch marsh for the series against the kiwi's, with Voges to make way if ferguson' batting demanded a place in the side. While picking a younger batsman for the West Indies series. Despite an impressive double ton ferguson hasn't looked especially good this shield season. Someone like a stonnis or handscomb both of whom are in good touch should be first cab's off the rank. Stonnis can even bowl a bit. Should Australia want a few extra overs of medium pace, or to pick an extra spinner
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Ditto. Younger players need a shot first so we don't again have a multitude of batsmen retiring at once.