Australia have recalled allrounder Mitch Marsh for the Boxing Day Test against India, dropping struggling batsman Peter Handscomb.
It is the second time in as many years Handscomb has been dropped two Tests into the summer, with Marsh’s part-time seamers getting him the nod.
Skipper Tim Paine acknowledged on the eve of the Test that Handscomb needed to work on the technical side of his game after falling cheaply in Adelaide and Perth.
“I’m sure Pete would be upset,” Paine told reporters.
“I think he’s had conversations with the selectors that there’s a few things that they would like him to work on and Pete is open to that.
“Obviously it’s a long series and our bowlers have had a really big workload. We feel that we’re going to need Mitch’s bowling at some point.”
“We know that Pete at his best is going to score a lot of Test runs. He brings a hell of a lot to our side. We love having him around the group and I’m sure he’ll score a lot more runs for Australia.”
Handscomb also struggled during last summer’s Ashes series and could struggle to get back into the side when Steve Smith returns for the tour of the UK next winter.
Paine said Handscomb would come into consideration for the fourth Test at the SCG, typically the most spin-friendly of the Australian pitches.
“Going to Sydney, a place where it normally spins, I think people come back into the fold pretty quickly because he’s renowned as probably our best player of spin,” Paine said.
“I know he’ll be doing everything he can to get back into the side.”
After losing the first Test in Adelaide, Australia fought back in Perth to level the series and take momentum into the biggest fixture of the summer.
But Paine, who sparred verbally with counterpart Virat Kohli in Perth, played down suggestions his side had all the momentum.
“We don’t feel like we’re on top of them. We feel like we’re getting better every Test,” he said.
“Certainly when you’ve got an inexperienced playing group and you get a big win like we did in Perth against the number one team in the world, guys are going to grow in confidence a little bit and come to Melbourne feeling a bit better than we did when we went to Perth.”
AUSTRALIA XI: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Ba ha ha ahaaa
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
As my reasoning is sound we must conclude that the reference is to the selection. Why would you change a team to make it worse?? What field of sporting endeavour are you a selector for? If a winning team is changed and then loses, isn't the change the first area you investigate?
Mon
Guest
Your inability to understand that simple premise.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
There's only 1 thing sillier than M. Marsh being picked in this Melbourne Test. And that is that he was once VC of Australia hehehe :)
Omega10
Roar Rookie
The selectors and hierarchy always seem to be looking for reasons to shoehorn Mitch back into the team. It use to be annoying but it's getting bizarre that such an ordinary player is givin such a hand up. A very average Test cricketer.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
What's ludicrous? The selection or your reasoning?
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
You must be exhausted with the mental effort it takes you to think up new nicks.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
His Dad.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
My understanding is Marsh has 2 failures with the bat in the most recent shield match, then failed with the bat in the subsequent T20... then selected to bat at #6 for Australia. What are the selectors seeing that the rest of us cannot?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
The standard approach here should be - any change must improve the team. The last test was won - if the team goes backwards, blame the change and those that made it. Personally I think it's ludicrous.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Expectations for who? Mitch Marsh or the Australian number 6? If the latter your expectations are low. My biggest fear is that we are repeating last summer. If the MCG is a road then Marsh has a better than 50/50 chance to score big runs like the roads he scored on at the WACCA and the MCG last year. Then he’ll certainly tour and We are stuck with him for several more tests. Maxwell must have banged someone’s wife. Seriously.
anon
Roar Pro
They look the part those Marsh boys. Lot of time in the weights room.
Drew
Roar Rookie
I wonder if Marsh will also be given 2 games (line Handscomb) if his performances are as underwhelming?
Matt H
Roar Guru
So very predictable.
Is Don Is Good
Guest
If you think SOK deserves any sympathy you're dimmer than I thought (which isn't as much as a glimmer already).
Is Don Is Good
Guest
Based on his current tests/batting average progression by the time he's played100 tests he'll be averaging 80+. Why wouldn't you pick him?
Is Don Is Good
Guest
Wade fails simply on the new no dlckhe@ds policy.
Terrence
Guest
Hey relax guy.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
#Flintoff05 still haunts these selectors !! If Finch's finger is not right , i would say go for Geoff Marsh to open with Harris. lol
John Allan
Guest
Did Langer consider Dan Marsh, Geoff Marsh, Rod Marsh or even Graham Marsh the golfer? If he can't field a team of Marshes,what about the next best option, Groucho Marx?