Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is in line to earn an Ashes call-up for the last 3 Tests of the ongoing series. He could be added to the 13 man squad with Australia leading the five-match series 2-0. They registered a comprehensive victory on the final day of the 2nd Test after playing an unchanged XI in the first two Tests.
The hosts named a 13 member squad for only the first two Tests with Chadd Sayers included specifically for the Adelaide Test but as it turned out the pacer wasn’t required for the day-night Tests and might be a possible replacement for the final 3 Tests. Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie stated that a 4th bowler who could be a back-up for the quicks might be very vital.
“I said after the first two Test matches the Australians will maybe add someone to their squad, possibly an allrounder because they’ll feel the surfaces in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney are three very good batting surfaces,” Gillespie told Optus Sport’s Stumps program.
“And the three big hairy quicks are going to need a little bit of support. So don’t be surprised if a Mitchell Marsh or that type player comes into the equation.” Marsh last donned the whites during the Test series in India earlier in the year after picking up an injury during the 2nd Test and required a full shoulder reconstruction.
Marsh returned to bowling earlier than expected during Western Australia’s JLT Sheffield Shield game against Queensland at the WACA Ground which was the venue for the 3rd Test starting on December 14 bagging a couple of wickets for 49 runs. He also scored a century in the match and followed it up with 95 against South Australia at the WACA in the previous round.
Former Aussie opener Chris Rogers feels that Marsh is the clear frontrunner for the last 3 Tests and could be replaced by Peter Handscomb.
“Unfortunately it’s going to be Handscomb that will be left out,” Rogers said.
“At the start of the season he was pretty secure with his spot, but just looks a little bit off colour at the moment. He doesn’t look like the game’s as simple as it should be for him. It sounds like the most simple thing in batting, but you go forward to full balls and back to short balls, but that’s not what Pete is doing at the moment, unfortunately.”
