Shaun Marsh’s start to the Sheffield Shield season has been solid with a century against Victoria on Sunday and an 85 against Tasmania in the first game, but Australia should not select him for Test cricket this summer.
With six Test hundreds and ten fifties Marsh’s career has had many promising moments, however he has only managed a Test batting average of 34.
Marsh’s issue has always been his inconsistency of scores at Test level and right now, Australia needs stability in the middle order.
Last summer was arguably Marsh’s best opportunity to cement his spot in the Australian side, with the team needing experienced players to guide them with Steve Smith and David Warner being absent due to their ball tampering bans.
With scores of 2, 60, 45, 5, 19, 44 and 8 against India last summer, Marsh failed to capitalise on his starts and convert them into big scores.
Marsh’s inconsistency isn’t the main reason why I wouldn’t pick him – but his age is why I wouldn’t pick him.
At the age of 36, Marsh’s best cricket is most likely behind him and – considering Australia’s opponents over the next 24 months are India, South Africa and England – the Australian selectors must look to the future and not the past.
Given that Marsh will be 38 by the time we play India, South Africa and England it is unlikely he will still be playing then, so Aussie selectors should look at youth now. The selectors are currently blessed with young batsmen in the runs after the first round of the Sheffield Shield which gives them plenty of options.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Will Pucovski has had a brilliant start to his Sheffield Shield summer and – with a first-class batting average of 46 – he is at the front of the queue to play for Australia this summer.
If Kurtis Patterson can regain the form he made in the second half of last summer, he should also make his way back into the side. Patterson is currently under an injury cloud after re-injuring his quadriceps muscle in New South Wales’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.
Travis Head could find his way back into the Australian Test side after being dropped from the fifth Ashes Test. Head made 51 in South Australia’s first shield game against Victoria last week.
Head’s disappointing Ashes series – which featured a high score of 42 over the four Test he played in – means that he needs some big scores to get back into the side.
Nic Maddinson’s superb double hundred against South Australia has catapulted him back into the conversation of the Australian Test side – less than 12 months after not having a state contract and having to earn one with Victoria.
Maddinson’s time with Victoria has seen him rejuvenated by making 563 runs at an average of 80 across last summer’s Sheffield Shield, which included three hundreds and a fifty in only five matches.
In a short time Maddinson has come a long way from his disastrous introduction to Test cricket, where he averaged less than seven with the bat from his three Test matches and is now back in the conversation.
The selectors could select Marsh and play safe with an experienced veteran who is approaching the twilight of his career – or they could look to the future and build on Australia’s quest to become the number one ranked Test side again.
I would go for youth and – given that many players are putting their hand up by scoring bags of runs – I’d be selecting both Pucovski and Maddinson this summer, but if Marsh continues his strong start it will be a very difficult decision for the selectors to make.
Dingo
Roar Rookie
I agree AJ. If our main focus is to beat England, India and S. Africa, then we should be blooding young players or letting the newer players gain experience against the lesser teams so when we do play the big three, we have some experience and depth. To keep playing these hacks in the twilight of their career doesn't take us forward for the future. It is time to plan for the future. The player who left with the my respect was A. Gilchrist. He left when he was still on top of his game and not dropped because he was struggling. The Marsh boys should do the same.
dan ced
Guest
I'm bracing for 1 or 2 logical selections, but a whole spate of "really?????" like most announced squads! Happy the shield is back on anyway, just hope the Redbacks can actually win a game this season :|
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'd struggle to find it. Anything you can quote? You'll find me defending top level cricketers. It's what I do. Did you read the list one comment above yours? The "No, you are!" taunt doesn't work.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I didnt know he was in consideration anyway
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
You're the one with all the hate. It comes across in everything you say.
Paul
Roar Guru
All of the guys you named are quality bowlers dan ced, so choosing who will fill that last bowling spot will be tricky. I thought Jhye Richardson was outstanding last season and he seems to have come back from injury in good shape. No doubt there'll be a few blokes who will think they're hard done by, when the First Test side's announced.
dan ced
Guest
I think Lasagnatrain is a lock for the squad, as is Neser. I'd even consider Cooper as a smoky because he's been quite reliable and responsible, using his experience finally. If they put Pucovski in the squad again but don't play him at least once, they are mega-retarded. Same goes for Neser. A Carey for Paine swap would make sense, Paine gets out for single digits playing dimwitted pullshots instead of nuggeting in for a captains knock. His keeping alone isn't good enough to keep him in the side.
Luke
Guest
Well Marsh was the only player to score more than 72 in the match, and Victoria was skittled for 186 the following innings, so I'm not sure calling it a road does the knock justice.
dan ced
Guest
Pattinson and Boland are decent shield bowlers but will not succeed for AUS as they bowl currently. The Jhye Richardsons, Nick Winters, and Riley Merediths need to be considered above them, as does Michael Neser.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yet Marshs test record is better.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I don't think he'll be picked either but that's because we have so many Oz batsmen in form. If he was picked, he would do well...as would many of them. His slip catching is stunning at the moment.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Just meant that I don’t think the selectors will seriously consider him - because of past disappointments they won’t want to risk public outrage if he fails, and they will prefer to go for someone younger. I count myself something of a Shaun Marsh fan, not one of the haters.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I think you’re right Jeff. I’m a fan of both Marsh and Burns to an extent. Disappointed that Marsh has translated his ability into Test runs. But if you’re a selector and you pick him again you’ll be worried about getting pilloried for repeating past mistakes if he fails. Burns has been discarded a bit too quickly in the past, but hasn’t absolutely demanded picking again, though he always looks better to me than Harris for example.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Richo's throwing arm has been so strong from the outfield. Sadly, he still has to bowl it in or underarm it. A bit to do, still, with his rehab.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It actually appeared BECAUSE he succeeded yet again.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I just don't want to see him go down the same path as Renshaw, and probably a few others, who seemed to get picked early on potential, then if they get a few low starts, get pushed aside as not being Test ready and perhaps spend too long on the sidelines, when a more rounded domestic experience may have prepared them better in the first place. If he were to play all 5 Tests this summer, I think that would be almost as many games as he's ever played in a FC season to date?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yep. So many good performances to start this season. Just a couple from each state:Labu, Neser, Starc, Henriques, Pucovski, Pattinson, Paine, Bird, Carey, Andrews, Stoinis, Inglis, Marsh, Agar, Richardson (the whole of WA).
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Anon! Well there's one fella who is consistent on both sites. Such comments always say more about the writer than the target of the hate. There are so many more pleasantly human ways to make a point.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
I am a little bit with Jeff on his thoughts. Is he a great talent, yes. Is he good enough for test cricket, probably. Is he ready for test cricket, not sure. It was only in February that he pulled out of the Australian test squad with health problems. Maybe just a full season in shield cricket will really set him up for a test career lasting many years. Putting him in now will increase the pressure on him no end.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
“SMarsh has become the biggest threat to Pucovski maybe making his test debut”. Ashley, there's a few 'threats' to Pucs debut that don't seem to be getting mentioned; 1. He hasn't played many Shield games. 2. He's only played at two of the Test grounds. 3. He has a history of concussions. 4. He has a history of mental health issues. The current NSP seem to be a pragmatic and strong-willed group so I'd be surprised if he gets a BG this season. They'd probably like to see him get settled in domestic fc first.