Last week the Australian cricket selectors were praised for making the tough decisions that inevitably helped the side retain the Ashes on enemy soil.
But now it seems they are back to their old nonsensical ways, leaving cricket fans across the nation completely perplexed by their decisions.
Mitchell Marsh, who is one of only two players in the touring party to not feature in any Test of this Ashes series, has been shockingly recalled, taking the place of vice-captain Travis Head.
Marsh averages just 25 with the bat and 44 with the ball in Test cricket, with his scores in the last ten Test match innings reading 10, 9, 5, 13, 0, 12, 0, 4, 16 and 5.
His last ten Test match bowling performances do not make great reading either, with 26 overs 0 for 51, 13 overs 1 for 39, 7 overs 1 for 21, 10 overs 0 for 38, 8 overs 0 for 40, 6 overs 0 for 30, 5 overs 0 for 26, 7 overs 1 for 26 and two DNB (did not bowl).
I understand that Head and Marsh are two different players, and that the life of an all-rounder is incredibly hard, with two responsibilities it is certainly not the easiest job in cricket.
Is Mitch Marsh worth a gamble? (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Nonetheless, Head’s statistics read like those of somebody that should almost be impossible to drop.
He has a career average of 43 and has the third highest Test runs tally in the entire world for 2019 with 515, behind Ben Stokes, 540, and Steve Smith, 671. This is an impressive feat considering it came in two fewer innings than Stokes.
Head’s last four innings of this series have admittedly been low scores, but his performances before that are exceptional with scores of 42*, 7, 51, 35, 59*, 161 and 84.
As a young, vice-captain of the Australian cricket team, who has played reasonably this series and helped Australia hold on for a draw in the second Test with a gutsy match-saving innings, Head should not have been on the chopping block.
In an interview with Cricket Australia, captain Tim Paine made it obvious that Marsh was only replacing head due to the conditions, allowing for an extra bowler towards the end of a tiring series.
However, with up and coming bowling all-rounder Michael Neser waiting on the sideline, surely it is time for Cricket Australia to try something new.
Neser has a healthy bowling average in first class cricket at 27, as well as a batting average of the same number.
What Neser also adds to the team is the ability to move the ball. As a bowling all-rounder his capability of swinging and seaming the duke ball would be perfect for English conditions, something that has failed to sway selectors.
Head should not be the player to make room for Marsh, and Marsh should not be the all-rounder picked to aid our bowling attack.
The Ashes have been retained, and with the selectors opting for change in this final Test, it seems they have reverted back to their decisions of old.
Unfortunately, this is something that just might halt the Australian victory celebrations.
Russell Brown
Guest
Like Maxwell. But he's being kept out to keep Smith happy. There some friction between them.
Russell Brown
Guest
What is it with Smith and Maxwell being in the same team, or I should say, not being in the same team. Maxwell scored a 100 last time in India. He has been in unstoppable form in t20. He is on form, in the top 3 in cricket right now, and you leave him out. Is there a mental illness over Smith and Maxwell. Is there something being swept under the rug about Smith. Is he jealous of Maxwell, and threatening the spit the dummy if you select Maxwell. And, I believe this is the reason Maxwell has taken time of for head space reasons. Maxwell has been treated poorly, all to keep Smith happy yeah. Come on, out with it. Stop the skullduggery.
NarenNathan
Guest
The selection was a bit like omitting mike Hussey many years ago. First of all they should have played Starc instead of Siddle. The selectors shouldn’t take credit for retaining the ashes; they should be thankful to Smith.
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
Yes, blame this one on the selectors. The selectors were cruel to make Warner bat again rather than give him the opportunity to build his confidence up in first class cricket. He may be damaged for a while now. Openers could have been Patterson and Burns or Will P. Mitch Marsh shouldn't have played and Head needed to paly. Marsh bowled well, but we needed another batsman. Ditto for Paine. We need a wicket keeper who averages over 30 with the bat. Either Handsome or Carey. Siddle is a nice guy and tries so hard, but we needed Starc instead.
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
Incorrect, He is a MARSH! A guaranteed selection case
Chris M
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul, I think you have it spot on here. MM doesn't select himself so we should get behind him and hope we (Australia) can get the desired result. Marsh will be a good selection if hes allowed to bowl say 15 or so overs, since hes been fully fit the last 9 months or so his bowling has greatly improved. And Lewis, the selection error was made in dropping Head when it should be Warner. Although I will say at some point or another Head needs to go on with one of his starts, not a bad problem to have but a problem none the less. Thanks for the article.
Will Cuckson
Roar Rookie
Except that Marsh is from WA.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Nicholas, Get a life instead of criticising Paine. Carey and Wade are not up to tying his bootlaces. We have the ASHES so the selectors have been proved right. There was no one else after the fiasco of the sandpaper saga. They saw something that has bypassed you. But keep it up, you will have to put up with Timmy for the foreseeable future.
Akitas
Roar Rookie
Marsh should not even be in the touring party, much less selected for the 5th test.
Ptiddy
Guest
people forget when you recieved the baggy blue cap they gave you a baggy green at the same time.
Nicholas
Guest
Would’ve thought Paine could be dropped before Head if selectors didn’t wet the bed and give Paine the apparently undroppable captaincy title. Keep Head, let him captain and get Wade or Carey in as the gloveman.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So low batting average and high bowling average and gives away the mean in the field. Maybe he get a job as a cameraman?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
When we get to the 45th one we will have coach full of coaches. That's one heck of a ride. ---- The new coach comes in glory and leaves in a puff off smoke.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Gumby, Cricket is a team game. The team has retained the ashes and yes without Smith and the bowlers would have been up in the air. But we have got Smith and that is the teams good luck. It is like saying that without Tendulker India might not have won matches in his era. Or for Bradman in the 30's.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Spanner, I agree and would not have picked Marsh. My point was that the selectors have been right so far. Also I think to prejudge their selections till the test plays out is a bit premature. If we or Marsh performs badly that is the time to judge them.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Agree General, the selectors have done a good job up to now - but they have taken their feet off the pom's throats and we both know how this will play out. This boy is not a batsman or a bowler - just a West Australian !
Big Daddy
Guest
:thumbup: Agree 100%. I for one won't be watching. Nothing has changed . Lehman now Langer.
U
Roar Rookie
Not only is Mitch a poor batsman and bowler, he’s slow as hell in the field and drops catches. I suspect his lack of agility whilst fielding is down to his weight. He’s got to slim down
ken gargett
Guest
good article. it is yet more evidence of the dimwitted west aussie bias that langer has shown from day one. don't care that we have won the ashes, this never-ending stupidity of his is going to cost us dearly and the sooner he is gone the better. chance after chance after chance. mitch marsh had a record that should put his participation at state level into question, let alone shoehorning him back into the test team (now they'll be able to point to him and say but, hey, he was part of the ashes winning team in 19). the bloke had one purple patch but has never been close before or since. sure, head has a problem between bat and pad but do you really bring back a failure? it just feels like the other selectors could not give a toss and they let langer support his west aussie mates no matter what. obvious example is leaving joe burns home - last test 180 and a test average over 40 - for another perennial failure, bancroft. apparently bancroft got a fifty in the third level english comp so get him back as fast as possible. and guess what? anyone think that if shaun marsh was fit, he wouldn't be back there again. we won the ashes despite langer, not in any way because of him. smith and the bowlers did him one huge favour.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Now and Zen we get it wrong