Australian vice-captain Mitchell Marsh has been dropped for the first Test of the summer against India, with selectors opting instead for Victorian batsman Peter Handscomb.
Marsh was announced as one of two new vice-captains alongside fast bowler Josh Hazlewood in September, but a meagre tour of the UAE against Pakistan has seen him lose his spot in the side to Handscomb.
Marsh could only manage 30 runs in four innings in that series against Pakistan, although the door has been left open for the all-rounder to return to the Test side later in the summer.
“Mitch Marsh hasn’t been as consistent as he would have liked and we would have liked,” captain Tim Paine said today.
“We’re taking an opportunity to send him back to Shield cricket… knowing at some stage we’re probably going to need him.”
Handscomb has played 13 Tests, the last of which was the final match in Australia’s infamous tour of South Africa earlier in the year, and currently has 829 runs at an average of 43.6 to his name.
That’s a far better return than Marsh’s 1200 runs at 26 from 30 matches, and Paine said the expected life in the Adelaide pitch meant he was comfortable going into the first Test of the summer without an all-rounder. Marsh has taken 35 wickets at an average of 42 in his Test career to date.
“The wicket over the last few years here has given enough throughout the game,” said Paine.
“Going forward, we’ve got full faith in him being a Test all-rounder.
“As this series wears on and you get to places where the wickets might be a little flatter and conditions a bit warmer… that all-rounder position becomes important.”
Marsh’s omission means Marcus Harris will make his debut at the top of the order, pushing Usman Khawaja to first drop. Shaun Marsh is likely to bat at four, Handscomb at five and Travis Head at six, with Paine and the bowling attack to follow.
Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
The first Australia-India Test of the summer starts tomorrow, December 6, at 11am (AEDT) at the Adelaide Oval.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
I'm happy to see serial failure and total dud M Marsh dropped and hope he never returns to Test cricket. Same for his older brother who should never have been picked for this series, or the last one, or the one before that imo.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Maybe we should only select him in absolute roads like last year.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I was referring to the remark about one of our bowlers not backing up for T2. They got through plenty of bowling last ashes and even on the subsequent tours without major injury issues.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
“Going forward, we’ve got full faith in him being a Test all-rounder." - How can he have faith in him, his record is awful. Is this the qualifying line in the sand, if so the bar has been lowered significantly.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Different nick, same eloquence & irrelevance.
doug heffernan
Guest
Dont worry Loco, Burns will be back in for the 3rd and 4th test after Finch nicks deliveries for only paltry scores in each of the 4 innings. Hoping Burns tonnes up in the next Shield round. Brining Burns in make it stronger. Finch is a T20 slugger at best. He done well in UAE on the slow decks but will be out within 10 mins today.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
If they need a fifth bowler to send down a couple of spells during the day, Head could probably manage that.
dustboot
Roar Rookie
Agreed. His test figures are upside down. He'd be a brilliant all-rounder if his bowling average was 26.08 and his 42.45! I don't know why we persist with entertaining an all-rounder, with such a frail batting line up. Marsh hardly bowls anyway....can't Head or Maxwell / Smith (when playing) bowl a few overs?
dustboot
Roar Rookie
I signed up just to say; ABOUT TIME!
pakistanstar
Roar Rookie
Our bowlers will have a better chance to stay fit if our batting lineup can bat for more than a day rather than having a short relief from a weak 5th bowler.
Is Not Don Is Not Good
Guest
Lol- so "pro" status comrs on the back of 2,8000 comments and nothing else... Lololololol
Is Not Don Is Not Good
Guest
qwetzen = yawn
Mick Plant
Guest
Bowl.... in 39 degree heat. Nice call.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
And to think he batted at #4 in his last test. Goes to show how riciculous that was. Everyone bar the selectors could see that at the time.
JD St George
Roar Pro
I think I celebrated this news more then I would if Australia win the series. Go the Aussies!
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
I'd opine that this Indian batting is a couple of grades ahead of the 17/18 Pomgolians in ability and intent. One successful series on flatties against an ordinary batting side does not make the 5th bowler option "dated". We shall see. Betfair: Oz 2.16 - Draw 5.9 - Ind 2.68 It'll be interesting to see what effect the toss has.
Paul
Roar Guru
neither are Test quality Kopa and there's no-one on the horizon who can do an all-round job in Australia at present.
Simoc
Guest
This team needs to be able to score 350 runs in the first innings of each test to compete with this Indian side. The chances are improved with the non-selection of M Marsh who doesn't look to be a test quality batsman. It will never be easier for the likes of Harris, Handscomb and Head to seal a spot in the team at home, but I'm not sure the last two are up to it. Harris should get a few chances. If Khawaja or S Marsh have a bad series, we're stuffed.
JohnB
Roar Rookie
While Watson never produced what he looked capable of, his overall figures weren't horrible (batting 35.19, 24 fifties and 4 hundreds in 107 innings over 59 games, bowling 1.25 wickets per test at 33.68). The number of hundreds was low for someone who batted a lot in the top order. Symons' figures were also ok, although he never looked more than a change bowler at test level (26 tests, 41 innings av 40.61, 2 hundreds and 10 fifties; 24 wickets at 37.33). That's not Keith Miller, but there haven't been many Millers.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
With Mitch Marsh it's a continuation of the curse of Keith Miller.....no one has measured up since!!! In recent times though - a couple of wonderfully 'potentially' talented guys like A.Symonds, S.Watson.....and M.Marsh have been given way, way more opportunity than many others. Mainly because they looked really good on their good days.