The Marsh brothers and young opener Matt Renshaw will play their first Tests in India this week while all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and number three Usman Khawaja will miss out.
That is shaping as the most likely situation after the Marshes shone in Australia’s only warm-up game, during which Maxwell was largely sidelined and Khawaja was left out altogether.
That match, against India A in Mumbai, was a shootout between Mitch Marsh and Maxwell for the batting all-rounder berth, with Australia all but certain to field a fifth bowling option in the first Test starting Thursday.
Two things went against Maxwell across the opening two days of that match. Firstly, he was not afforded a chance to press his case with the blade, with Australia declaring at 7-469, leaving Maxwell on 16 not out. Earlier, his rival Marsh had batted for 200 minutes in making a patient 75.
Secondly, Australia’s two leading spinners, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe, proved expensive against India A, taking 4-162 and 3-101 respectively. Lyon was particularly loose, conceding an incredible 5.6 runs per over, and at one point going for 81 runs in the space of ten overs.
Australia may well feel they have enough wicket-taking power between their four frontline bowlers – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Lyon and O’Keefe – that the fifth bowler need only hold up an end with tight spells.
Marsh looks capable of doing just that, bowling a full length and stump-to-stump line with a touch of reverse swing. He has struggled badly for penetration during his five Tests in Asia, during which he has collective figures of 2-228.
The one thing Marsh has in his favour is that he has been very economical in those matches, conceding a miserly three runs per over.
The sight of Lyon and O’Keefe going for plenty against an ‘A’ side can’t have given the Australian selectors much confidence that Maxwell could be a frugal fifth bowler in the Tests.
Not to mention that Smith continues to be reluctant to bowl Maxwell and batted him at eight in this match behind wicketkeeper Matt Wade. All signs point to Maxwell being well and truly on the outer, so much so that it’s a surprise he was even picked for this tour.
Maxwell’s best chance of earning a Test spot will depend heavily on the state of the pitches, particularly the 4th Test surface at Dharamsala, which has been known to favour quicks at times in domestic cricket.
If one of the Test decks looks amenable enough to pace bowling the Australians could consider playing Jackson Bird as a third specialist quick, leaving out one of Lyon or O’Keefe and then using Maxwell as the second spinner.
But that’s a big ‘if’ at this stage. Maxwell’s prospects are not bright, even if he was picked in this tour match ahead of fellow spinning all-rounder Ashton Agar.
The fact he was batted at eight and Australia then declared on him when they had plenty more time to bat suggests they don’t see him as a serious option for the opening Test.
Shaun Marsh appears to be a lock for the Pune Test after making 104 retired at Mumbai.
Combined with his stellar Test record in Asia, where he’s made 393 runs at 79, Marsh looks to have earned his spot, quite possibly at first drop behind David Warner and Matt Renshaw.
Australia’s likely line-up for the first Test starting on Thursday in Pune:
1. David Warner
2. Matt Renshaw
3. Shaun Marsh
4. Steve Smith
5. Peter Handscomb
6. Mitch Marsh
7. Matt Wade
8. Steve O’Keefe
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Nathan Lyon
Don Freo
Guest
Good rant. This is Shaun's first failure for a long, long time. Do you have any recent failures for Australia we should talk about?
Brett
Guest
That's it. I'm changing my surname to Marsh because your virtues are amplified and your flaws are ignored. How many chances have they both been given and how many times have they failed? Shaun in particular has been tried and tested at the top level and continuously failed. The selectors need to draw a line through his name and move on. I really feel sorry for guys like Hodge, Klinger and Finch, and others over the years who never really got given a proper chance been because Shaun Marsh has been given the nod ahead of them (undeservedly so) time after time.
Don Freo
Guest
Remember, though, that Lehmann isn't coaching the T20 mob. If he was, they'd be up there too.
Ants32
Roar Rookie
You said "and kept the country ranking at or near the top in all forms." I was pointing out that's not quite correct. :(
Don Freo
Guest
You just retyped it and crossed out Holden Cruze or Kia Optima and wrote "Mazda 6" in crayon. Anyone can do that.
Don Freo
Guest
...and?
Ants32
Roar Rookie
Although Oz are 2nd in Test and ODI rankings, they are ranked 7th in T20, Don. :/
Rob
Guest
It's that simple Basil. We can only hope and expect the team to play hard fighting cricket. Cricket has a history of making experts eat their words.
qwetzen
Guest
Poo. Out for 3 weeks.
qwetzen
Guest
I think you mean "its 0-100 figure is three times slower than..." Top Gear: "Hey, it’s no Audi but you might just be fooled into thinking some of that plastic is metal this time around." "The engines are nothing to write home about..." "Mazda’s sat-nav routing has all the spatial awareness of a blind, deaf person in the Crystal Maze..." Wheels: "MAIN RIVALS Ford Mondeo, Holden Commodore, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Toyota’s big-selling Camry, not to mention the Volkswagen Passat and its mechanical relative, the Skoda Superb." The Mazda 6 came 7th out of 10 in their 'Family Sedan Review', which didn't include any of the Big Three German premiums. https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/search/keywords-midsizesedan Practical Motoring: "At the local announcement of the refreshed model, Mazda boss, Martin Benders said, “the premiums are coming down to meet the non-premiums. So we should really come up to meet them half way.” "That’s an interesting statement, because overseas the Mazda 6 refresh is being pitched at keeping the car relevant against the likes of Ford’s Mondeo and the Skoda Octavia and Superb, and not the entry-level premium brands." And its 'performance'! Blimey! It's the equivalent of a Rudi Koetzen 'Out' signal. Of course if you can dig up a reputable review which rates the very average Mazdarati 6 higher than anything I've mentioned in a straight comparison then I'll immediately withdraw my dastardly description of the average Mazda as "average".
CRICKET 1
Guest
Dammit Chris HArtley Just got injured
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Free market (IPL) is a great indicator. Maxwell, despite him having 2 poor seasons, he is in high demand, and so is Cummins.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
C'mon Ryan.. what game have you been watching.... 1. Remember the time when Khawaja struggled against Swan and then in Sri Lanka, what....you say he scored a 100 in Sri Lanka on his dubut tour their... and has scored truck load of runs in Australian summer.... hmmmm 2. Remember the 20 Tests Maxi got to make his mark,.... oh sorry that was Mitch Marsh 3. What about Warner smashing Sri Lankan's in Sri Lanka to win the T20.... , my mistake, that was Maxi... Ok dispute this, Khawaja is a worse keeper than Wade... I knew there was a reason. And Maxi scares Ashwin which will then piss Ashwin off ( like Deano did to Ambrose), who says we don't learn from History.. Told you there was a solid reason.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
I'll answer your question with a question. Yes, if we win the toss and Warner does what he did to Pakistan/New Zealand at home. But what are the chances of that?
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
With that side.... Bhaji is spot on.
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Nothing wrong with being a bogan mate... :)
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Gold!
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
Mate - Shaun has been good in Asian condition and has massive IPL experience behind him, I know IPL wickets are different, but the familiarity of the environment helps. Younger Marsh is the concern. His technical deficiency with his batting will be exposed at 6, again.. Not playing Maxi is a crime, and after we are thrashed, those responsible for that decision need to go.
Don Freo
Guest
Have a read of some motor magazines. The Mazda 6 is a benchmark BECAUSE it has the qualities of cars 3 times the price. Wheels, Motor, Top Gear...are consistent on this. (Citroen C5 in that list is funny.)
qwetzen
Guest
re Mazda 6: I assume you mean "benchmark for medium sized cars under $X". If you did then they still fulfill my description as "ordinary". If you think that they compare with the Audi A4, BMW 4, Jag XE, Merc C250, Citroen C5 and a few more then you're a bit nuts.