Sore Mitch Marsh to be monitored ahead of the 2nd test at Adelaide as selectors put their faith in the same team.
Sore Mitch Marsh will be closely monitored in this 10-day break ahead of the second test at Adelaide.
Marsh complained of soreness after bowling 17 overs in the first test. This is the most he has bowled this year after bowling just 4 overs this year.
While Marsh bowled exceedingly well in the first innings and got 2 wickets for his efforts, his effort in the second innings was mediocre. Fatigue began to creep in as he was treated disdainfully by the Indian batters.
McDonald was hesitant when asked if Marsh had performed well after bowling 17 overs in three days. It is the most he has bowled in three years, but only delivering four overs in all of cricket over eight months. His words were, “We’ll wait and see,”
Despite taking only 16 wickets on a surface where India took 20 with ease and held Australia to just 104 and 238 runs, the coach did not believe that Australia had been short in bowling options in Perth because of Marsh’s fitness.
“No we didn’t feel that [was a weakness],” McDonald said. “We knew that Mitch [Marsh] was slightly underdone coming in but I thought the performance in the first innings was satisfactory.”
McDonald did not commit to the same lineup, he clarified the 13-player team that was chosen for the first Test. This featured reserve fast bowler Scott Boland and spare batter Josh Inglis, would be on duty in Adelaide. In addition, he stated that after their 295-run thrashing in Perth, the complete team would meet in Adelaide on Monday, one day earlier than scheduled, for an additional net session.
The calibre of choices available to Australia behind the established players in domestic cricket is one problem. When choosing Nathan McSweeney to make his Test debut, the selectors had to make a tough decision. They decided to move the 25-year-old, who had mostly achieved success in first-class cricket at Nos. 4 and 5, to open the batting, even though he had never done so in Sheffield Shield cricket.
Inglis has no history in Western Australia’s four, and his success in first-class cricket has come from number six as a wicketkeeper. Another player who has been very active in Shield cricket recently is Beau Webster, but he only plays at number six. If Marsh was ruled out and a fifth bowling option was required, he would be used.
Over the past 12 months, despite an opening berth becoming available twice. None of Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Matt Renshaw have been selected. This is demonstrating the selectors’ lack of faith in them.
Furthermore, due in part to the difficulty of local pitches. Few batters in Shield cricket are producing impressive stats to support selection for Test matches. However, McDonald was certain that the talent was available if it was needed.
“I think there’s been enough players banging down the door,” he said. “I feel as though we’ve got some depth there if called upon. Sometimes people look at the pure numbers of what’s happening in Shield cricket. It’s sometimes hard to get a connection with the surfaces they’re sometimes playing on. So we feel as though we’ve got ample players available if called upon.”