Australia sticks with Marsh for Adelaide

The injury-plagued Marsh held his spot despite failing to fire in the series.


Afp January 17, 2012

SYDNEY: Australia named an unchanged squad Tuesday for the fourth Test against India in Adelaide, maintaining faith in struggling number three Shaun Marsh.

The Australians are chasing a 4-0 series thrashing of India and are expected to make one change to their starting 11 with spinner Nathan Lyon likely to return at the expense of young paceman Mitchell Starc.

The injury-plagued Marsh held his spot despite failing to fire in the series, which the Australians lead 3-0 after their innings and 37 runs victory in Perth on Sunday.

Coach Mickey Arthur backed Marsh to come good in Adelaide, and said he saw enough in the left-hander's brief innings in Perth to suggest he had turned the corner.

"The stars have aligned for us the whole series, except for in the number three position," he said.

"I saw signs of him coming back, I saw signs of his movements being a lot crisper, his weight transferral was a lot better, he looked really good at a point.

"Hopefully Adelaide is the catalyst for him."

Marsh, rushed back into the Australian team for the series after being sidelined by a back problem, made 11 in the home team's only innings at Perth.

That was his best score of the series and he has just 14 runs at 3.50.

Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said winning the third Test in under three days meant there was no need to rest any of the fast bowlers, but indicated Lyon would return regardless.

"A spin bowler has always been a priority in Test matches at Adelaide Oval and it is very likely that Nathan Lyon will replace one of the other bowlers in the final 11 for the fourth Test," he said.

Australian squad: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc.

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