Shaun Marsh’s entire career has been controversial. From when he made his debut in the baggy green to now as a 36-year-old, people still say he got more chances because of his well-known cricketing family.
Marsh missed out on the entirety of Australia’s Ashes campaign and didn’t play in all of the 2019 World Cup. Due to injuries or selection, he has had virtually no time on the international stage this season. However, he has been an absolute run-machine since the start of the domestic cricket season which begs the question: what does Australia do with Shaun Marsh?
Let’s start off with the Test team. Marsh has played 38 Tests in an eight-year-long career to this point. The peak of this career was between 2014 and 2016 where he averaged 46.50, 42.10 and 57.75 each year.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Since 2016, however, his Test statistics have been on a decline. Marsh averaged 33.85 in 2017, and 25.89 in the ten-match, jam-packed season of 2018. His last Test series was against India, where he achieved scores of 2, 60, 45, 5, 19, 44 and 8, at an average of 26.14. This caused the 36-year-old to be dropped for the following Test series against Sri Lanka.
Marsh wasn’t fully prepared leading into the 2019 Ashes series, having recently missed a bit of action due to injury and the birth of his second child. Nonetheless, he has had an amazing start to the 2019-20 Sheffield Shield, making headlines as he scored 214 against a strong Victorian bowling attack featuring James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Chris Tremain and Scott Boland.
In his first four innings of the tournament, he scored 9 and 85 against Tasmania as well as 214 and 0 (not out) against Victoria. Controversially, Marsh missed out on a spot in the Australia A team which will be playing a three-day match against Pakistan in mid-November at Perth Stadium.
This strong squad features batsmen Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns, Travis Head, Will Pucovski, Nic Maddinson and wicketkeeper Alex Carey. This a clear signal that the selectors are focusing on younger talents, such as Pucovski, opposed to a veteran like Marsh.
Next, we go on to ODIs. Marsh made his ODI debut for Australia against West Indies in 2008 and has been Mr Consistent in the format, averaging 43.73 in 46 matches between 2008 and 2015.
In 2016 and 2017, Marsh hit a slump in this shorter format, averaging only 29.20 and 19. However, since 2018, he has picked up his form again, averaging 50.67 in his twenty most recent ODIs.
He was hitting the ball well in the ODI series against India in preparation for the 2019 World Cup. Unfortunately, a broken wrist ruled him out of the latter stages of the tournament.
There is still hope, as he has started the Domestic One-Day Cup for Western Australia with a bang, scoring 8, 42, 82, 33, 30 and 85 at an average of 46.66.
Although he plenty of success in recent first-class appearances, Shaun Marsh’s best odds for representing Australia again will only come in the shorter formats of the game.
AREH
Roar Guru
Nothing controversial or unfortunate about his non-selection for the A tour match. He is very much a known quantity to selectors, and that side is not necessarily the 'second XI' either. Instead it is a strong yet developmental team of those with foreseeable test prospects in the next five years. For some, even longer. If you were talking purely about a second XI, well he is probably in that.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well, Wade's now locked in.
Jero
Roar Rookie
Of course. I plain forgot about the Australia A game. The whole point of it is for picking the Test side. As you say, there will be a lot of people salivating if Pucovski gets going, but I don’t see him getting ahead of Wade, there are plenty of reasons for the selectors to want to get Head back in, and Ol’ Man River just keeps rolling along, he keeps rolling along. Hope your teenager nails it!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I suspect they will announce the team after the conclusion of the Aus A match which finishes in the middle of the fourth round of the Shield. That will be 8 days before the First Test. Yes, there are few standouts for those spots up for grabs. You'd think Wade as "the incumbent" has done enough to lock in number 6 with 40, 20, 40 & 69 - not stellar, but probably sufficient given other returns from other contenders. Head may have just gotten himself back into the frame for #5 with his ton. Other than Marsh, I can't see anyone else likely at the moment for those lower order spots. Pucovski's only averaging 32 in FC since last being considered for Australia, with 7 single digit scores from those 18 innings; unfortunately that's just not Test standard so he'll need to get some consistency. Of course a couple more innings to go before selection and I still have the feeling that a single good performance in the Aus A game could be enough to get someone picked for the Test. Pertinent analogy re cramming for exams - Year 12s are right in the middle of it now (one of mine included!).
Jero
Roar Rookie
Especially with just one Shield round starting on 11 November before the first Test on 21 November. I'm not sure when they'll announce the Test squad, but if memory serves they picked it after the third round last year, with the fourth round still to play before the 1st Test. Some batsmen are really leaving their runs very late. Shaun's the only one who's not having to cram the night before the final exam, let's say.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
"when his domestic Test average in recent years is actually very solid" Since his poor first home series v India 8 years ago (should never have rushed back into the side after sustaining that back injury a few weeks prior in Cape Town), he's averaged 49.70 in Australia from his 25 innings. He's certainly been consistently good at home. Will be interesting to see how he goes 2nd innings at Gabba.
Jero
Roar Rookie
The superior records thing is up for debate, as is whether these younger players are demonstrably better to warrant wearing the baggy green. At least Head has put his name back into the mix with 109 today, following scores of 12, 0 and 21 in his last three Shield innings, backing onto his 12, 19, 25, 0, 42no, 7, 51 and 35 in the Ashes. Pucovski has got 7, 3, 2, 64, 123 and 13 recently, the ton on a complete road. Patterson has a calf injury, with recent scores of 16no, 38, 32 and 4. Burns has 32, 39, 52, 13, 9, 19. Khawaja’s got 0, 2, 24, 1, 72, 23, 8, 2, 36 and 57, though did cop some dodgy outs in his last few games. Shaun’s got 77, 214, 85 and 9. So there’s that. It’s hard to see the selectors simply ignoring this and focusing solely on his age and career average, when his domestic Test average in recent years is actually very solid, and when so few of the players who ought to be staking their claims are getting it done when it counts. Burns and Khawaja really have to make it stick when they bat tomorrow to get back into the frame. Harris has got 8, 69, and 116 in the Shield so far, so no matter how poorly he went in the Ashes he’s not giving up the opener’s slot to either of them without a fight. He’s ahead right now. I’d put it down to a two horse race between Head and Shaun right now, assuming that they won’t consider an all-rounder at 6 until Mitch recovers. I’d say Head’s ahead, insofar as they would want to get him back in if he has the form to warrant it. Pucovski’s gone backwards, and they’d have to be really committed to getting him in early when there’s little recent form to warrant it. If Shaun isn’t good enough to wear the baggy green, he’s in good company as things stand right now.
anon
Roar Pro
Marsh wasn’t good enough to play this World Cup. He’ll be nearly 40 by the time the next World Cup rolls around. No-one would give a toss about this guy if it wasn’t for his surname.
anon
Roar Pro
No it’s terrible. We could be playing younger players with superior averages and building towards the future. Instead we’re looking back to a really mediocre veteran. He averages 34, generally playing second drop.
anon
Roar Pro
He is 36 and averages 34. He’s not good enough to wear the baggy green. It’s really simple. We have younger players with superior records champing at the bit to play.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Just watch and enjoy the careers of Cameron Green and Jhye Richardson. Green is so good at batting and bowling that no one will be able to decide if he is a batting all rounder or a bowling all rounder. Richardson never gets to bat often enough for people to know how good he is. Good to see so many prople still engaging in Shaun's career.
Jero
Roar Rookie
The corollary of this discussion is what to do with all the other middle order contenders who are keeping Shaun in the frame as late as Shield Round 3. He's on 24 as we speak with both WA openers out for ducks on what's been a batsmen' s graveyard of a GABBA, where the 1st Test starts in under three weeks. If he goes on with it, the selectors can't exactly focus upon him as the problem needing addressing, when he's actually presenting as the most immediate solution to an immediate problem.
Tom
Leave him to dominate domestic cricket. He won't be around for the next WC so time to groom someone new for the number 4 position so Smith can bat 3 in the ODI team. Warner and Finch also may not be around next WC so might be time to look at a few other opening options over the next year or two. Heazlett, McDermott, Weatherald etc.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm sorry but what was controversial about leaving Marsh out of the A side to play Pakistan? The games being played in Perth and selectors know what Marsh can do over there. What they don't know is what he can do when the ball is really moving, as was the case in Tassie yesterday, for example. He should not be excluded from any selectors conversations about any of the formats, but where he rates in comparison to other contenders is another matter entirely. His best format is probably ODI, but this is likely to take a back seat for a few years and I doubt greatly he'd be in contention for the 2023 WC.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Do not disturb. Leave him alone in Shield. He is doing just fine.