Mitchell Marsh has once again fallen short of the expectations held by Australian supporters, as he was dismissed for a low score in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test against India. The Australian all-rounder is experiencing a disappointing series with the bat, accumulating only 73 runs across four Tests, with a top score of 47 achieved in Perth. His other scores include 6, 9, 5, 2, 4, and a duck.

The absence of fast-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green has compelled Australia to retain Marsh in order to maintain balance within the playing XI.

Throughout the series, Marsh has struggled significantly, managing only one double-digit score, which occurred during the first Test in Perth.

In the meantime, Marsh managed to evade the challenges posed by Jasprit Bumrah in the initial two Tests, but he made a light-hearted comment regarding this prior to the Brisbane Test.

During a press conference, when questioned about his strategy against Bumrah, who has troubled many other batsmen, Marsh humorously remarked that it was likely his turn to become a victim of the Indian pacer.

“He’s coming,” Marsh quipped. “Everyone has their own plans, and we all bat differently, so (it’s about) the situation in the game,” he stated during the press conference before the Brisbane Test.

Unfortunately for Marsh, his performance has not improved since then, as Bumrah has dismissed him three times in the last four innings. On Sunday, he struggled to cope with an extra bounce from a delivery by Bumrah, resulting in him gloving the ball to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.

Additionally, Marsh has not made a significant contribution with the ball in this series. In Perth, he bowled 17 overs, achieving figures of 3/77, but since then, he has bowled only 13 overs without claiming a wicket.

Waugh advocates for Webster to take Marsh's place in the Sydney Test

During a discussion on Fox Cricket, Australian cricketing icon Mark Waugh advocated for the inclusion of Beau Webster in the team, suggesting that selectors should consider substituting Marsh with the 31-year-old player. He remarked, “There will be a debate, depending on the conditions and the team's composition. Beau Webster is part of the squad, and Marsh has not scored any runs in this match.”

Waugh further elaborated, “In theory, it is possible to position Alex Carey at number six and have Beau Webster at number seven, which could be a viable option.”

He noted, “Webster is a batting all-rounder who is likely to bowl more overs; he is capable of delivering both off-spin and seam bowling.”

Waugh concluded by stating that this matter would be a topic of discussion based on developments over the next two days, particularly regarding the fitness of Mitchell Starc.

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