I’ll be frank. I’m not a Shaun Marsh fan.
Over the last few years his selection has been a puzzle to me and I have been happy to engage in a bit of banter, or as some Roarers see it, petty jibes, when his name comes up.
We all have our favourite players, and all have players we don’t rate. I know Shaun Marsh has his fans. Some look at his batting and see talent and class. I don’t.
I could go into the list of things I see, and they have been played out on the pages of The Roar time and again; the shuffling and wafting outside off stump, the repeated opportunities after apparently doing little to earn them, and so on and so forth. But here’s the real reason.
I just don’t enjoy watching him bat. I’ve thought about it, and that’s what I come up with.
He reminds me of Damien Martyn. There was another player that others looked at and saw elegance and style. I was wishing Stuart Law was in the team instead. I don’t think Law was a better batsman, but I preferred watching him. Some players, to my eye, are just better to watch.
So when Shaun Marsh was named for the third Test against Sri Lanka, in place of players that I actually enjoy watching at the crease, I couldn’t help myself. “Here we go” I thought. “If this guy’s the answer to our batting woes, I’ll eat my hat”.
Now in the defence of Marsh he had given the selectors reason to pick him. His recent Test form has been good and his previous trips to Sri Lanka have resulted in good runs. He had given himself a shot at it.
And didn’t he take it? The first Aussie batsman to score a ton this series. His 130, and his double century-stand with skipper Steve Smith, turned the Test from Sri Lanka’s way to an even contest.
Now I’m trying not to listen to the voice in the back of my head about lucky dropped catches, or one good innings followed by a drought, or a flat pitch, or Rangana Herath being off injured for some of the session.
Let’s not downplay the achievement with a string of qualifiers.
Australia needed someone to stand up with the bat, and Shaun Marsh did just that. I’m glad I am reading The Roar’s blog rather than watching, but nevertheless well done S Marsh. My hat’s off to you.
Er… can someone pass the salt?
Craig Swanson
Guest
I have both Marsh brothers pushing their cases for India. They may not be the greatest technicians against spin but they sure as hell have the required mental capacity to ride out the tough times. We are seeing a blossoming of Mitch Marsh over the past 12 months.. is he about to realise his enormous promise? I am still bothered about his tendency to play with hard hands in defense. The coaches need to nail into him about playing with softer hands.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I did like Smith until I watched him bat live at the Oval. That was a salutary experience. I found David Warner far more classical and pleasant on the eye. Smith looked awkward and a bit sloggy, even if highly effective. I would have thought the opposite was true from the TV.
9 Monkeys
Roar Rookie
Forgive the humblebrag but I played against him once (U17's) and chased leather all morning and enjoyed it all the same. His placement and timining was remarkable and you just knew he was destined for better things. If memory serves he retired so he could race off to bat at four for his first grade side.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Same here. Beautiful to watch.
CCG
Guest
Maybe it was because Marto was surrounded by superstar batsmen like Ponting, Hayden, Gilchrist, Steve Waugh & Mark Waugh. Easy to get overshadowed by those guys. He didn't have to power or utter dominance of some of those guys but he was peppermint mango.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Yeah, it is a bit of everything, isn't it? I wanted to applaud the guy and say well done. But I also wanted to honest that I don't really enjoy watching him play. And I wanted to fess up, say I got it wrong and give credit where it's due. I dunno what it was about Marto. Lots of people loved to watch him. Who am I to say they were wrong? But his style wasn't for me. And I'm sure that you have players that you look at them and go "I don't get why everyone raves about this guy". Thanks for reading and commenting anyway.
CCG
Guest
Your article sounds a bit like a back-handed compliment to me. And how you can say Damien Martyn was not good to watch is beyond me. He was one of the best timers of a cricket ball to ever grace the game. Marto took a while to mature, but he was pure class.
Rats
Guest
A wonderful article.. Very honest and I could easily connect with this. well-written.. It is for the same reason I have always rated Ponting, Sachin, Lara above Kallis. Kallis's record is equally good, if not better. And he is a good bowler as well. Still there is something I don't like about Kallis' batting. He was just not enjoyable to watch. Ponting and Lara are so easy on the eyes. Cook is one more player who bores me.. But load of runs and amazing consistency... And a class player.
matth
Guest
Martyn played that world cup innings with a broken finger I seem to recall. He was a terribly unlucky player, considering he was dropped for that SA loss when he was the last batsman standing that day. But of course he was a but luckier than Law and Love
9 Monkeys
Roar Rookie
For mine Martyn was sublime. I loved watching him bat, and could happily watch his replays all day.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Thanks TCL. If I'm gonna dish it out, I gotta be prepared to wear it too. (At least on the cricket tab. Still working up to writing something nice about Ricky Stuart over on the league tab...)
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Nice humble-pie piece, Dutski. Thanks for having the balls to write it.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Gordon/Danno, agree completely, Martyn was criminally underrated as seen in him being complete against all types of bowling in all conditions Agree about him being hang out to dry for that loss against RSA- it arguably was the difference between him ending with a test average of 50+ with 25 test tons
danno
Guest
I remember going to the WACA and watch Martyn as. 20 yo go from 36 to 100 in all boundaries. He ended up having a solid career but it could have been a lot better if the selectors had not crucified him after the S Africa dismissal where he was the scapegoat for the SCG debacle. He lost all confidence and became unsure how to play (natural game vs Boon like) and then that idiot Smith made him captain of WA when Moody was in waiting putting more pressure on him.
Gordon Smith
Guest
Martyn is possibly the most underrated batsman of the modern era being overshadowed by Ponting during his career. Has a great average off 47 at home and 46 away compared to someone like Mark Waughwho averaged 43 at home and 41 away. Often his best performances where away so the public did not get to see them. I recall a world cup final where Ponting smashed a magnificent 140 not out and overshadowed an also magnificent 88 not out by Martyn.
Luke
Guest
Gotta agree with the Joe Burns comparison. Joe Burns has had seven sub 10 scores to Marsh's six over both their last twenty test innings or past two years, which ever way you want to look at it. Shaun Marsh is averaging 48 to Joe Burn's 42 over the last two years too.
SP
Guest
Martyn was crucified after we were bowled out for 111 against SA and lost an almost unlose-able match if i remember rightly. Fanie De Villiers was on fire that day
Gobarg
Guest
I'm sorry Dutski but it seems there are a few people here that read the title and head straight for the comments. I'm glad he was chosen and also glad he was able to show the rest of the team how to bat I SL. Even if he was caught at 60 t hats still about 59 more than Burns would have scored I reckon. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Smith for me, BHT, any day of the week.
Nudge
Guest
"His average wouldn't get him an Australian A game. Averages 40 in test cricket. That's not brilliant but it isn't too bad either.