Boxing Day unlikely for Marsh

Australia opening batsman Shaun Marsh is unlikely to be fit enough to feature in the Boxing day Test against Pakistan at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Marsh’s failure to recover may hand a lifeline to New South Welshman Nic Maddinson who has yet to make double figures in three Test innings.
While Matthew Renshaw has impressed in his short career as a Test opener it is believed he would drop down the order to accommodate the returning Marsh were he fit.
Australia could also call on Travis Head who starred in the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series against New Zealand, with a string of handy knocks, to try to solve their number six issues, while Callum Ferguson is another who may be afforded a second crack at it.
Cricket Australia’s team performance chief Pat Howard says that Marsh is a big doubt for a return in the second Test against Pakistan.
Howard told ABC radio: “On a personal note, you’d like to see anyone do well. It’s been really pleasing to see three debutants, two have actually put down fantastic markers.
“Obviously with Nic, we all talked about Adelaide being tough. But the other thing is, there’s never the perfect opportunity.
“I’m sure Callum Ferguson would love an opportunity. And so there’s never the perfect way or perfect opportunity, and you’ve got to take what’s on offer. Nic or anybody else, when that opportunity is presented, you’ve got to come and take it with both hands. And I think that does apply no matter what the age.”
Howard conceded that older players need to do more in first class cricket to earn Baggy Green calls.
Howard said: “They’ve got to top the run-scoring, they’ve got to absolutely dominate in Shield.
“And I think that sends a fantastic message to all the Shield players. They’ve got to play really well.
“There is the opportunity absolutely, to do that. For the younger players, you’ve got to be able to talent ID. You’ve got to be able to go ‘I’ve seen enough in this player to be able to go to the next step’.
“I don’t think that’s anything different from the past, but yeah, you expect higher standards [of older players].”
Latest
-
News
Matt Henry and Ben Green help Somerset keep perfect record
Umpire Sue Redfern wrote her name into the history books when she became the first female to officiate on-field in a Blast fixture.
-
News
Umpire Sue Redfern makes Blast history as Gloucestershire brush aside Middlesex
Redfern is the first female umpire to officiate on-field in a Vitality Blast fixture.
-
News
Joe Root cannot wait to perform in Ashes without burden of captaincy
Root has skippered England in the past three Ashes series, but hit 460 runs without the captaincy in 2015.
-
News
Huge blow for England with spinner Jack Leach ruled out of Ashes
Leach experienced low back symptoms during England’s win over Ireland at Lord’s.
-
News
Josh Hazlewood set to be fit for Ashes despite missing Test Championship final
The 32-year-old has been managing an Achilles issue as well as a side injury in recent months.
-
News
Josh Tongue impresses and Ben Duckett shows pedigree – 5 England things
Ben Stokes’ side beat Ireland inside three days but Australia will provide a much sterner test.
-
England
Ben Stokes plays down fitness fears after not batting or bowling against Ireland
England won by 10 wickets after being set 11 for victory.
-
England
Josh Tongue claims five on debut as England beat battling Ireland by 10 wickets
England made it 11 wins in 13 Tests under Ben Stokes’ and Brendon McCullum but endured a frustrating day at Lord’s.
-
England
Resistance of Ireland tail-enders ensures England must bat again at Lord’s
Debutant Josh Tongue claimed a five-wicket haul but Mark Adair and Andy McBrine hit fifties for dogged Ireland.
-
Ireland
Harry Tector half-century helps Ireland hold up England victory charge at Lord’s
Josh Tongue, Jack Leach and Joe Root claimed wickets but Ireland made it through until lunch on day three.