Mitch Marsh snared two key wickets to leave the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania evenly balanced after two days, boosting the controversial all-rounders hopes of clinging on to his place in the Test XI.
Marsh continued his good bowling form to keep Tasmania at bay in the rain-affected Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.
Tasmania went to stumps on Friday’s second day at 5-217 in reply to WA’s 337, with Caleb Jewell on 41 and Tim Paine on 18.
Marsh claimed the wickets of Jordan Silk (44) and Ben McDermott (26) to end the day with figures of 2-38 from 15 overs.
Cameron Green (2-44) was also important, while fit-again paceman Jhye Richardson (1-36 off 17 overs) was economical in his first Shield match since suffering a shoulder dislocation.
Marsh, fresh off his match haul of 7-86 in the fifth Ashes Test, trapped Silk in front with a sharp delivery during the second session. And he snared his second wicket when McDermott chopped the ball onto his stumps.
Matthew Wade was looking good after making his way to 40. But he edged one behind after Richardson was abled to get a delivery to jump fiercely off the pitch from around the wicket.
Green entered the match having taken 16 wickets at just 7.63 in two Shield games against the Tigers. He continued that impressive record on Friday with the scalps of Alex Doolan and George Bailey.
Doolan was out when he edged Green to second slip. And Green produced a pearler of a delivery that crashed into Bailey’s off stump.
Play was stopped several times during the morning and afternoon sessions due to rain, with bad light finally ending the day just before 6.00pm.
Jewell and Paine hold the key to Tasmania’s hopes of earning a first-innings lead. Paine is playing his first match since breaking his thumb in the fifth Test against England.
Jake Ramzy
Can everyone look at statistics and see both Marsh's are not good enough! How many losses have we had with them in the team. It's totally unfair blokes like Nesser, Stoinis, Velente, Short don't get a fair shake.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Great news for the ODI team with Stoinis on the outer.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Three catches ,two wickets and a neat 40+. Richardson with three wickets,Green with two- but very pleasing for the bowling coach,only 5 extras in a 400 score
Paul
Roar Guru
Again, Marsh has not harmed his chances with his spell yesterday but selectors have 3 names already penciled into a 4 man attack and guys like Pattinson, Jhye Richardson, and Mitchell Starc are miles in front of MM for that last spot, IMO. I'm also not sure they'd want to pull out the same trick they used in the last Ashes Test and have Marsh play as an all rounder. He certainly bowled well enough, but we comfortably lost that Test because of our batting and he is not a Test quality number 6 IMO.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
Though I think Mitch Marsh has the talent to be a worthy test player, he has not been able to make that next step up effectively. Now, with young Labuschagne, who is showing effectiveness with the bat and ball at test level, I don't see the value in including another all rounder in the Australian test side especially as we have some outstanding bowlers and batsmen on the rise. With the rise of young Pucovski, who must now be getting close to test consideration, Mitch is likely to be dropping down the pecking order, unless Labuschagne drops the ball