A sore Mitch Marsh is set to be eased into the second Test against India in Adelaide as Australia attempt to bounce back from their series-opening flop in Perth.
India lead the five-Test Border-Gavaskar series 1-0 after crushing Australia by 295 runs inside four days at Perth Stadium.
Test skipper Pat Cummins has hinted Australia are likely to retain the same XI for the pink ball Test in Adelaide despite their woeful batting display in Perth.
Marnus Labuschagne is under the most heat after posting two off 52 balls in the first innings before making three in the second dig.
Debutant Nathan McSweeney (10, 0), Usman Khawaja (eight, four) and Steve Smith (0, 17) are others who are desperate for a big score.
Marsh has barely bowled this year due to a series of niggles, but he racked up 17 overs across two innings in Perth.
The 33-year-old picked up 2-12 off five overs in India’s first innings, before toiling for 1-65 off 12 in the second innings as the visitors declared at 6-487.
Marsh then made 47 off 67 balls on Monday in Australia’s total of 238.
With Cameron Green (back) ruled out for the summer, Marsh’s bowling is crucial for Australia as the hosts attempt to ease the load on quicks Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Marsh pulled up sore from the Perth Test, but he at least has a 10-day break before the day-night clash in Adelaide.
Cummins hopes Marsh will be able to bowl in each Test match he plays this summer, but his body will be closely monitored in the lead-up to Adelaide.
“He’s (been) battling a couple of little niggles since the UK tour,” Cummins said.
“So the main thing is he’s in there as one of the top six batters in the country and bowling is a bonus.
“He was a little bit sore towards the end of this Test match.
“In the next 10 days, chance to freshen up try and get it right. We’ll see how he goes. Ideally, he would be able to bowl in each Test match.”
Australia last won a Border-Gavaskar series in 2014-15, with India holding the trophy since 2017.
India are aiming to beat Australia at home for a third consecutive series.
The last time Australia recovered from a 1-0 deficit and came back to win a Test series was in the 1997 Ashes in England.
With the Test match in Perth finishing in four days, Cummins said the team was likely to arrive in Adelaide a day earlier than first planned.
Cummins is confident his team will quickly adapt to the pink ball.
“No doubt the batters will want at least one hit in daylight and night time,” Cummins said.
“And same with fielding – we’ll catch some balls under lights and do a fielding session during the day.
“It’s just a little bit different to pick up with the eye. As a bowler it feels a little bit different.
“But one or two sessions – we’ve played a lot with pink balls, so it’s not as big an adjustment for us.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au