Aussie all-rounder Mitchell Marsh’s fortunes suddenly took a turn with his unexpected Ashes call-up.
The 26-year-old cricketer is likely to be a back up for the out of form Peter Handscomb who has been struggling throughout the series. Marsh has been included in the squad for the WACA Test, as the Aussies hope to seal the Ashes before Christmas.
The decision to give Mitchell Marsh a chance over Glenn Maxwell who had performed brilliantly for NSW after getting dropped for the first two Ashes Test has raised a lot of questions. Former Aussie fast bowler Rodney Hogg labelled Marsh as the worst performing number six in Test history and is surprised with his selection over Maxwell.
“It’s a kick in the butt for Maxwell,” Hogg said on SEN Thursday morning. “He went away, flew up to Brisbane (after a David Warner injury scare), comes back and makes 250 for Victoria, so he said to the selectors ‘you’ve made a good decision to take me up there … I’m now a very good first-class player’.
“[Marsh] has got a Test average of 21. He does not deserve the right to come in … I can’t believe that.” he added.
“He hasn’t knocked the door down with the bat. He’s played in five first-class games and made over 45 twice. He hasn’t knocked and said ‘I wasn’t good enough for those 21 Test matches, I’ve gone away and improved’. I don’t think he has.” said Hogg.
Hogg continued,
“We have got one glaring little weakness,” Hogg said. “If one of our bowlers breaks down in a game, we haven’t got the fifth bowler at all. You’ll start to look pretty stupid if a bowler breaks down early in a game.”
“That’s why we’re always searching for the fifth bowler, and there’s nobody here in Australia who can do it apart from Marsh. But having said that, he’s not allowed to bat at six because of his average. If he comes into the side, (Tim) Paine needs to come up to six and Cummins or Marsh at seven.” he said.