The Marsh Brothers – Shaun and Mitchell. For years, the two siblings have felt the wrath of the Australian public. Whenever the brothers have been amongst a now (almost) inevitable Australian middle order collapse, they have been the scapegoats.
And for the most part, certain levels of criticism are warranted for their performance. Shaun, for example, has averaged in the single digits across his last 8 innings – a stat that is never a positive sign for a man with so much talent.
His brother Mitchell, left his breakthrough innings for the Australian public a lengthy four years after his debut, albeit, a very good 181 in last year’s Ashes. Regardless, both players have shown incredible amounts of talent as many times as they have disappointment.
Australia’s recent ball-tampering debacle in South Africa has opened up a nine to twelve month hole in Australia’s top order, with all three of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft suspended for their law-breaking actions.
Such an episode opened a new door for Shaun and Mitchell to cement their spots in the team, and have them as walk-ins for the 2018-19 summer. However, their diminishing form since the Ashes last summer has left some serious doubt over their form; or at least that is the most popular view.
History however, would suggest an unheralded trend is likely to continue again this summer. Regularly, the Marsh brothers have found themselves out of favour with the Australian public in the build-up to an upcoming home summer of cricket.
This is often due to a lack of form on the subcontinent, or a poor form patch in places most recently in the UAE. Yet it appears that every summer, either of them will find themselves back in the Test arena playing for their country.
The most intriguing thing to note from all this is the reason for their constant selection. With Mitch, and in particular Shaun, they have year after year scored mountains of runs in Sheffield Shield cricket and found themselves statistically a field above their competition in the domestic arena.
Shaun averages over 40 with the bat in the four-day format for Western Australia; an average rarer than most think. Mitch, being the all-rounder he is, averages a tick under 32 with the bat, and 30 with the ball; respectable figures for a versatile cricketer.
Remembering that these numbers are actually combined with their Test stats (Test matches are also counted as first-class matches), their batting averages are actually higher than shown on paper, and lower in Mitchell’s case with the ball. With all this said, it is fair to come to the conclusion that they are indeed well-rounded cricketers with the talent to prove it.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
It is undoubtable though with all this said, that their inability to perform consistently on the big stage is what frustrates the Australian public the most. When Shaun is in form and smoking his trademark cover drive, it is inhumane to not froth over his talent.
Likewise, when Mitch is spanking bowlers all over the WACA and taking poles – it amazes people how he isn’t doing this also on an international level. Which leads to the elephant in the room, where to next for the Marsh brothers?
The Australian domestic fixture in line with international test matches this summer is unique to previous years, with several rounds of shield cricket taking place before the Aussies kick off their Test summer campaign against India in December.
However, multiple one-day matches against South Africa before hitting the Test arena make it hard for both brothers to find form with a red ball before December. This is due to their likely call-up into the ODI team, with both batsmen arguably worthy of their spots in the team given their recent white ball form.
Australian coach Justin Langer has made it blatantly clear that runs are a form of currency under him, and that their existence in any form of cricket can translate to selection in any format.
From this statement alone, it seems that if they can find form in the South African one-day series, they are all but certain in a spot against India come December 6 in Adelaide. Playing in familiar conditions, it should logically be easier for the two of them to retain their spot in the starting XI.
The message is simple for Shaun and Mitch; runs in the upcoming ODI series against South Africa will give them first crack at India in December ahead of other candidates.
For Mitch, wickets will be seen as a bonus, but not essential. His bowling is often only used to give his fellow fast bowling teammates at international level a break, and seen more as a changeup allrounder – opposed to genuine allrounders like Jacques Kallis and Sir Garfield Sobers.
The door is open for both Marsh brothers, but the Australian public have just about had enough of their inconsistency on the big stage. It’s likely this summer could be Shaun’s last to cement his spot in the team, and at 35, time is seemingly not on his side. Mitchell, on the other hand, is still only 27, but will do his international career the world of good with some match-winning performances this summer against both South Africa, and subsequently India in the test arena.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
True, when you consider Lehmann or Katich would've been pick #1 or #2 in any other test team during those years of trying to get Aussie selection.
Kandeepan Arul
Roar Rookie
The current side is just a stop gap side until Smith and Warner come back from suspension. It makes sense to just go with the most experienced options who are likely to perform against India. Both the Marsh brothers will get picked simply because there is no one better and Khawaja might not even be available for the start of the series.
Charlie
Roar Rookie
I don't know when Mitch returned from injury, but starting from his 181 v England, Mitch has scored 526 runs in 16 innings with one not out. This is an average of 35.1, again hardly 50ish. Including any other innings will only reduce this average, so your argument that "their averages say otherwise" is completely wrong.
Charlie
Roar Rookie
You must have a different method of calculating averages. Since October 2016 (the past 2 years), Shaun has scored 835 runs in 29 innings, with one not out. This is an average of 29.8, a very far cry from 50ish. Even if you take it back a further year to include his 182 v West Indies and 130 v Sri Lanka, his average only gets to 37.7 (1170 runs, 32 innings, one not out). So the averages also say that Shaun is not good enough for test cricket.
RobPeters
Roar Rookie
And Swampy only averaged 32 in his test career as an opener.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It seems Shaun doesn't have too much trouble with them. You might like to check out Richardson, Kelly, Green, Moody, NCN, The Dorff, Paris, Mackin, Tye, Marsh, Stoinis...then there is Agar, Qadir, Short, Turner.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Do you want reading lessons now? Try again.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Cricket people...like all the different selectors and all the different team mates think differently. You are almost right about his age but, nothing else. You continue to get things wrong, regardless of the sport you choose to throw mud at. Seems like you are sad all summer as well as morbidly sad in winter. Do you have any joy in the 2 week off season?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If he had lost his place due to poor performance none of you cliche-brigade has cause for complaint. Hmmm! Which line of argument will you choose? Either way, you concede error. Hoist with (your) own petard.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
FACT. He has lost his place due to injury 'more than any other reason'. Next argument? That one held no water.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Their avrages say otherwise. Shaun has averaged 50ish over the past 2 years of Test cricket. Mitch likewise since he has returned fro injury. You might not like them but that is a far cry from a cricket comment. Do you have any argument or is your method of persuasion to abuse and shout down.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Joe Root may not have been at his best recently, but he still averages 42 for 2018. A public holiday named after him might be seen as uncouth by some of the MCC.
Mitcher
Guest
Appreciate where you’re going with that but unfortunately just not true. Both marshes have rubbish first class records. Their abject failure at test level should come as no surprise.
Mitcher
Guest
Mitch Marsh at 5? Have a spell
Mitcher
Guest
No he’s not. That’s absurd.
Rob
Guest
I agree Rellum. Shaun would have been better suited to the 6 spot. Anything higher is probably for the younger players. Maxwell should have had position 4 or 5. Labuschange was a good fit at 7 in those conditions.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Every test because he is scoring runs?? Shaun has played the last five tests for a total of 88 runs... That is the problem. I prefer him not to fail, yet fail he often does.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
FACT- Shaun Marsh has been dropped because of lack of runs more times than for any other reason. (17 runs from 7 innings in 2012. After a pair against South Africa (I think that was harsh as he scored 148 and 44 on his comeback one test earlier). After 0 and 2 at Trent Bridge when he replaced his brother. Twice he has replaced an injured player (Clarke and Khawaja) and he was dropped when Khawaja returned (despite scoring 182) and at least once he has been injured himself and unable to play the next test. Since the second test in South Africa, he is currently on a run of 88 runs from his last 10 test innings.
anon
Roar Pro
Shaun Marsh has had his chances. We have more than capable batsmen available to fill the role of an underperforming, inconsistent 35 year old. It's not like this is Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting here where we might give them a farewell series. It's Shaun Marsh.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
We also don't have any bias because of a personal relationship with the player. Watching Shaun Marsh batting in form, it is easy to see why selectors want to pick him. However, his career is littered with quick descents from stellar form to cant buy a run. If we want to address our batting collapses at test level, perhaps that isn't the resume we should be looking for. Both Marsh brothers are dismissed for less than 10 over 40% of their test innings. That's a very high percentage of failures. If the rest of the top order are guns, it could be worth waiting for the good scores from these two. Trouble is, our top order isn't. It is inexperienced, unproven and inconsistent without Smith and Warner. Familiar home pitches this summer should help with that to a degree, but the likes of Finch, Head and Labuschagne are under way more pressure than the test newbies of previous eras, who could find their feet batting at six behind some quality players.