Test great Mike Hussey believes Australia will contemplate dropping Shaun Marsh for the home summer after his lean run continued in Abu Dhabi.
Marsh fell cheaply on day two of the second Test, caught in the slips off seamer Mohammad Abbas as Australia were bowled out for 145 in reply to Pakistan’s 282.
With Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft suspended and Usman Khawaja opening the batting, Marsh has gone from batting at No.5 during the Ashes and the tour of South Africa to coming at at No.3 in the Pakistan series.
The 35-year-old has struggled up the order, managing just 10 runs from three innings.
Marsh had looked to be on top of his game when he scored a commanding 156 at the SCG as Australia wrapped up a 4-0 Ashes series victory.
He has not made a score of note at Test level since, leaving him vulnerable ahead of Tests against India and Sri Lanka over the home summer.
“At the end of the day, you do need to be scoring runs,” Hussey said while commentating for Wisden Radio.
“There’s going to be a lot of discussion about his place in the team.
“When he’s on song, he’s just unstoppable and looks a supreme batsman. But then when he does start having a run of low scores, he gets into this hole and he finds it extremely difficult to work his way out of it.
“It must be very frustrating for him.”
Hussey did not retire from international cricket until he was 37 but said Marsh would be aware of the dangers of losing form while in his mid-30s.
“Once you start getting into your 30s, mid-30s, you can’t afford to have a run like that,” Hussey said.
“Because everyone starts talking about your position in the team – is that the end of your career? – and that extra pressure builds up on you as well.
“Somehow he’s just got to find a way to almost let go in the second innings here in Abu Dhabi … just say, ‘you know what, bugger it. I don’t care anymore. I’m not going to try as hard.’
“It’s an easy thing to say but to do is difficult.”
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