At last, the Australian cricket team catches a lucky break. Having already lost Cameron Green before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and then lost Josh Hazlewood after the Perth Test, it looked like they were on their way to a three-peat. Amid all the gloom, Mitchell Marsh has given Aussie fans some hope. The all-rounder was uncertain to feature in the India vs Australia 2nd Test.
Mitchell Marsh fit for Pink Ball Test
Reports of Marsh missing the pink ball Test had emerged last week, and Cricket Australia had even added his all-rounder replacement, Beau Webster, to the squad. Luckily, Marsh will be available for selection in Adelaide. “The body’s all good, yep. Nah nah, I’m good to go. Yep, I’ll be there,” Marsh told Channel Nine earlier today.
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Why Australia need Mitchell Marsh
In Green’s absence, the need for Marsh increases. He was one of their better batters in Perth and even claimed three wickets (Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal). It’s not even that he was good in just the last game, but his batting returns have been great over the last 12 months. With Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith struggling, you need Travis Head and Marsh to lead the fightback with their aggressive lifestyle.
Australia also need a fifth bowler, but it’s batting that will be the bigger weapon. With Hazlewood gone as well, you need your main players to stand up, and that’s what Cummins would have Marsh do. The pink ball should assist the medium pacer, who can swing the ball under the lights with the pink cherry.
Australia’s squad for 2nd Test vs India
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett
