Mitchell Marsh has been called up for his first Test in four years as Australia looks to take an unbeatable lead in the Ashes.
Marsh replaces Cameron Green who has a low-grade hamstring strain in one of three changes to the bowling attack. England have won the toss and elected to bowl first as they try to fight back from 2-0 down.
Todd Murphy replaces the injured Nathan Lyon, while Scott Boland is in for Josh Hazlewood, who is having his workload managed.
Green was asked to send down 13 overs in England’s fourth innings over the weekend, including a sustained short-pitched approach that takes more out of the bowlers.
Australia know they must tread carefully with Green given his previous back injuries, and he has played three Tests in the space of a month following an extended stint bowling less overs in the IPL.
A team spokesman said Green is expected to return for full fitness for the fourth Test.
It is the 31-year-old Marsh’s first Test since he took his maiden five-wicket haul against England at The Oval in 2019.
(Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Chief selector George Bailey has previously indicated that Australia learned a lesson on their India tour earlier this year that they need an all-rounder to balance out their side after playing the first two Tests of that series with just four frontline bowlers.
With the Ashes able to be won in Leeds, Australia are attempting to strike a balance between going all out in pursuit of a 3-0 lead and trying to keep something in reserve for the final two Tests.
The quicks sent down a combined 50 overs on Sunday, with the longer-lasting impacts of Lyon’s injury now being felt in the squad.
Cameron Green celebrates. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
England welcomed back Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood to their team, replacing the injured Ollie Pope (shoulder), James Anderson and Josh Tongue (both rested).
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Murphy did play in India.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Marsh did not in any way deserve a recall to the Test side, his test record was far too far below what his talent demanded. We ostracize selectors all the time, but every now and then they pull a rabbit out of the hat, I certainly questioned Marsh being in the squad and am very happy to see I was wrong. I would retain Marsh in the 11 for now over Green. Green is going to be an all time great but right now there is an immaturity to his cricket, needs to learn his game yet, at this level but he is still only 24 and that maturity and knowhow will come.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
OK, I am being a bit hasty, but he does need to score more runs at some point.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
This aged well.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Oh-oh! :stoked: :silly: :laughing: :cricket:
Barney
Roar Rookie
It was accurate then and accurate now
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Hell no, too slow, doesn’t get the bounce to worry test batsmen.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Feel free to let me know when I make comments that are subsequently proven to be silly. "Marsh" and "saviour" have rarely been in the same sentence before now!
matth
Roar Guru
when your captain is a pace bowler who missed 5 years through injury, you are pretty much always going to see some sort of fifth bowler selected.
matth
Roar Guru
That didn't age well :stoked: . Still plenty of time for Marsh to get injured though.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Awesome rearguard innings :boxing:
sheek
Roar Guru
Opeo, Well how about that! Marsh put the lounge lizards to bed opining about his lack of match practice. Now let’s see Murphy also translate his recent hot net form into pitch success. Another good lesson for you youngsters. Just when you think you think you know everything there is to know about anything, along comes Marsh & dumps all your high thinking on the lounge room floor!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Was this his Bison-ternary?
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Who else has had two consecutive Ashes tours without playing a test? KD Walters...
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Dropping in to raise a merry couple of fingers to the legion of Marsh bashers in here. Up yours lads!
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Tonight's midnight Ashes snack is a warm dose of humble pie. Obviously it will be stuck in the pie hole for smoking and the reality check can be made out to Head, Ing and Lee.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Steele, you jumped on last night and banged down the door for Mmarsh while I said he would be rubbish. Thank bison you did. The big guy killed it out there. Amazing innings. Batted so well. The kudos are all to you and your oversized hairy quadruped. Surely he stays in for the 4th test. Does that keep Green out? Maybe Marsh to 5, Green to 6 and Head to open? I dunno.
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Care to comment about that joke now? :silly:
Steele
Roar Rookie
Good to get one right, but really he was just replacing Green who unfortunately has been quite poor in England thus far. People seem to want Marsh to fail because they’ve already labelled him a failure. He has improved, surely that is clearer now.
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Oops....