The injury to the in form Usman Khawaja has meant that there is now an opportunity for the talented Shaun Marsh to showcase his skills. Marsh had a horrible Ashes campaign, as he was made to look like a sitting duck in the Nottingham test, by the English seamers. However, since that episode, Marsh has moved on and now is ready to take on New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval.
Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann said that he is upbeat about the recent form of Marsh, and backed him to excel against the Kiwis. “He (Marsh) was very close in the first Test selection,” Lehmann said. “It was touch and go with Uzzy and Shaun Marsh. And he played really well for us last summer, he got 99 in Melbourne and a got a couple of 50s in Sydney. We thought he played quite well in the West Indies when he got his chance as well. He gets another chance to have a crack at Test cricket. He got some runs in Melbourne, which was pleasing to see. He gets first crack.”
“Shaun’s proven as in he’s made some runs and contributions. He’ll still want to prove himself again. I still remember that great hundred he got against South Africa at Centurion. So as a selection panel it was tight for all those guys when you’ve got to pick a batter,” Lehmann explained.
Lehmann also hinted that Khawaja could not take his spot for granted despite scoring back to back tons. “You’d hope so with his two hundreds,” Lehmann said when asked whether Khawaja would come straight back in.
“But having said that we still want him to play some cricket. He’s got to get fit and strong and faster first and make sure we don’t have another injury.”
“He’s had some injuries over the last 12-18 months, now he’s got to get back to full fitness and we want him to play some cricket before he comes under selection again. We’ve got no Shield game so it probably does have to be Big Bash.”