As Trevor Hohns announced that Steve Smith would not be travelling to the Caribbean and Bangladesh for Australia’s white-ball series against the West Indies and Bangladesh, there was a proven white-ball player for Australia who I had pencilled as Smith’s replacement: Shaun Marsh.
As Australia’s batsmen have struggled for the most part on tour, it made me feel I was right that Shaun Marsh should have been selected in Smith’s absence.
Although the pitches for Test matches in the Caribbean have steep bounce and are quick wickets, the same cannot be said for the pitches during limited-overs matches.
On slow wickets which bring spinners to the forefront, Australia are still batting with the mentality that they have when batting on flat wickets on home soil.
When Shaun Marsh replaced Steve Smith in Australia’s ODI team while Smith was serving his suspension, the Western Australian batsman was outstanding. In 18 innings between June, 2018 and March, 2019, Marsh scored 851 runs at an average of 53.18 with four centuries, three half centuries and a strike rate of 91.6.
In this time frame, he hit 59 fours (236 runs) and 18 sixes (108 runs). Thus, more than 59.5 per cent of Marsh’s runs were not scored in boundaries.
What does this show?
Marsh emphasised on the importance of strike rotation and keeping the scoreboard ticking without looking to clear the boundary through brute force.
If you compare Steve Smith’s ODI numbers since his suspension, he has scored 418 of his 947 runs in boundaries.
Although Smith and Marsh have played similar roles for Australia, Smith has scored 44.139 per cent of his runs in boundaries in this period. Just like Marsh, Smith emphasised on keeping the scoreboard ticking over without taking uncalculated risks.
Throughout the T20 and ODI series against the West Indies, I have yet to see an Aussie batsman willing to knock the ball around instead of taking unnecessary gambles and uncalculated risks.
While Mitch Marsh has impressed on tour with the bat, his over reliance on power hitting instead of emphasising on strike rotation has led to his downfall during the ODI and T20 series so far.
(Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP)
As Akeal Hosein and Hayden Walsh Junior have ripped through the Aussie line-up with spin, it makes quite grim reading as to how the upcoming generation of Australian cricketers are playing spin.
As Australia leaves for Bangladesh soon after the ODI series finale at Barbados, things will not get easier on what is naturally a rank turner in Dhaka.
Shaun Marsh is one of the best players of spin in Australia. There could be a case for him to be regarded as good as Steve Smith when it comes to playing the slower bowlers.
With a host of first name players out due to bubble fatigue and injury, it makes no sense whatsoever for the Aussie selectors to have discarded the elder Marsh on a tour of the Caribbean and Bangladesh.
Alongside his white-ball record, Marsh brings a lot of experience into any Australian white-ball team.
With Aaron Finch set to fly back home due to injury and go under the knife, Australia will head to Bangladesh as deep underdogs, despite the Bangladesh side set to miss experienced campaigners Mushfiqur Rahim (not entering the bio bubble on time) and Tamim Iqbal (injury) for the series.
While Shaun Marsh does not have an exemplary T20 record for Australia (more for a lack of consistent chances), he is one of the best BBL batsmen of all time and is one of the best batsmen in the IPL never to have won the tournament.
Justin Langer, of all people, should know about what Marsh brings to white-ball teams, having coached Marsh for the Perth Scorchers and Western Australia.
With over 13,000 runs in List A and T20 cricket combined, Shaun Marsh is still good enough to play in a second-string Australian white-ball side, regardless of his age.
While the Aussie selectors made a mistake not selecting Shaun Marsh this time, they cannot do this again for the T20 World Cup in the UAE, should Smith skip the tournament.
The wickets in the UAE suit Marsh’s style of play and with an extended squad set to be named for Australia during the tournament, it would be crazy not to recall him in an Aussie team that needs good players of spin who can rotate the strike.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Eh, I don't think Marsh would have made much difference. Firstly, the ODI side has been doing well enough, so the stats you've cited in that form of the game aren't particularly relevant. It's the T20I side that really struggled. Secondly, Marsh was just okay in the last BBL and hasn't played IPL since 2017. He hasn't even been playing PSL or CPL. While he may have been a great domestic T20 player once (and arguably should have had more opportunities in that format at international level), the label doesn't really apply any more - especially when you factor in that he's 38. Thirdly, although he's a good player of spin, he's a top 3 batter and we have plenty of them. Our problem is the middle order and bringing in a bloke to bat at number 3 doesn't exactly fix that. His brother did a good job there in the T20Is anyway. Marsh has experience, sure, but we had enough older heads in the group. What we needed was someone a bit dynamic in the middle order who wouldn't get bogged down. Someone like Glenn Maxwell. Unfortunately, we don't really have anyone else who fits that description.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Well AB...you never know till its gone.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Spot on.. I’ve watched from a distance the anti Shaun Marsh sentiments expressed here over a long time. . He deserves better.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
"Rightly or wrongly, only the future can tell." And the reality is that Labs is seen as the future given the years he still has in him, so, this being a WC notwithstanding, when it comes to choosing one from those three, it makes sense to choose Labs. And noting there is another WC 12 months after this upcoming one. CA would no doubt like to win the 2021 WC in the UAE. But, CA would LOVE to win the 2022 WC in Australia. The interest in the BBL that summer (and thereafter) following an Australia T20WC victory at home...? So I wouldn't be surprised if the internal discussions are centering around an 18 month pathway, rather than a 6 month pathway at this point, with this year's WC being part of the 2022 objective, even if that isn't being said publicly.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Why would he subject himself and his family to another round of the kind of abuse that we saw previously? If his performances of late are anything to go by he’s enjoying his cricket and making a comfortable living while doing it. Why bother?
Gee
Roar Rookie
Henriques averages 9 in ODIs and keeps getting a game, Marsh getting recalled for the twentieth time is less bizarre than that sad fact.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Thanks for that Jeff. Proves Marsh should’ve been backed properly if anything in ODI cricket. Always the backup unfortunately
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Wells and Silk are two underrated T20 cricketers. However, I just don’t see them ever getting picked as Aussie selectors want power hitters at five and beyond instead of a specialist number five.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
I didn’t see the Windies home test series vs SA so can’t comment on the pitches. However, their home series pitches since 2018 till this year vs Sri Lanka have been fast wickets with good bounce on offer. Marnus is a good player but this is his first good outing in a T20 tournament. What if that form goes away come T20 World Cup? However I do agree that Marnus is more likely to be selected over the likes of Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja. Rightly or wrongly, only the future can tell.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
A snapshot of comparisons of players’ ODI records during the period that S Marsh played: —- – S Marsh: 72 inns / 7x 100s & 15x 50s / Ave 40.77 / SR 81 – R Ponting: 42 inns / 2x 100s & 12x 50s / Ave 40.71 / SR 83 – S Smith: 102 inns / 8x 100s & 22x 50s / Ave 41.31 / SR 87 – A Finch: 113 inns / 15x 100s & 24x 50s / Ave 41.04 / SR 89 – S Watson: 122 inns / 9x 100s & 26x 50s / Ave 42.08 / SR 93 – M Clarke: 107 inns / 1x 100 & 11x 50s / Ave 45.12 / SR 77
Paul
Roar Guru
As you pointed out, the guy has an incredible record in IPL and white ball cricket yet, is not close to selection in the formats where he shines, but if his name is even whispered in terms of Test selection, he's pilloried as being a "selectors favourite"? As the Americans would say, go figure?
Patrick
Roar Pro
Ironic for a guy with a reputation as a selector's favourite, but your probably right.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm not saying Marsh shouldn't be considered Patrick, I saying he won't be, not seriously anyway. He and Usman Khawaja are two guys who should be packing their bags for the UAE right now IMO, but neither will get a look in unless a few guys drop out.
Patrick
Roar Pro
Don't disagree on Labuschagne, but why shouldn't Marsh be in World Cup consideration? If we're looking for someone to succeed in T20 cricket in Asia, why wouldn't we consider the guy that dominated the IPL for a decade? As you pointed out though, unfortunately neither will get a go before the World Cup. They haven't replaced Finch in the squad, citing logistical challenges, which will make it hard for the likes of Labuschagne, Inglis, and S Marsh to make a case for selection.
Patrick
Roar Pro
It's incredible that Shaun Marsh has the second highest average in BBL history, and the 11th highest in IPL history, but has only played 15 T20 Internationals. The idea of him being a selector's favourite comes from an Australian public that pays relatively little attention to white ball cricket. In terms of the West Indies tour, I think he would have been a good Smith replacement- presumably to bat 3. As you pointed out, the team selected was very one paced. It's also worth considering that the squad was selected before Labuschagne's T20 emergence in County Cricket. With Smith in doubt for the World Cup, and Labuschagne yet to fire in T20 cricket at the time, selecting someone to play that anchor role would have been logical. The irony is that 3 wasn't the problem in the end, with Mitchell Marsh having a breakout series. But when you look at his BBL record, there's no reason why Mitchell Marsh can't bat at 4 or 5. The only issue I have with selecting Shaun Marsh is that he doesn't fully solve the problem. He's just another guy who can only bat in the top 3. Whilst his strike rotation solves something which was glaringly absent in the Caribbean, he can't really start an innings batting lower than number 3. I'd love to see someone with that same ability to rotate the strike, and a proven ability to bat at 4 or 5 come into the side. Unfortunately Jono Wells was overlooked when in form, and Jordan Silk hasn't been selected after an excellent BBL season.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Please no.
Paul
Roar Guru
"Although the pitches for Test matches in the Caribbean have steep bounce and are quick wickets, ". Really? I thought they were either underprepared, as seemed to be the case in the recent South African tour, or were akin to an ODI surface, as was the case with Bangladesh. Sean Marsh would presumably have the same bio-bubble issues as Mushfiqur Rahim? I'd also suggest this tour of Bangladesh is all about looking for players to make the World Cup squad. Rightly or wrongly, SM does not seem to be included in that conversation. If anyone should be included, it's Marnus Labuschagne. He's way more chance of playing in the World Cup, he's a good player of spin and pretty handy with the ball as well.