Mitchell Marsh fit to play Adelaide Test, bowling still a concern

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was doubtful for the second Test against India in Adelaide, slated to begin on December 6. There are still concerns about his bowling fitness and, for the same reason, the team management has called up uncapped Tasmania all-rounder Beau Webster for the second Test. In the meantime, Marsh has looked solid with the bat in the nets and hasn’t bowled any over.

Leading to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, captain Pat Cummins talked about the importance of having quality all-rounders, who would share the burden of the three pacers. Since then, Cameron Green has been ruled out of the series, and now it’s unclear if Marsh will bowl again in the next four games against India. The team management may play him as a specialist batter, but in that case, they will have to drop one of the current batters, and it can hurt the balance of the team.

“I think he'll be right. I haven't heard otherwise. His batting has been fantastic for us since he's come back into this team, and his bowling again, he took some handy wickets. So hopefully he's right and ready to go,” Carey said about Marsh in the press conference.

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Don't feel for one loss, we're calm internally: Carey

Australia in the meantime are under tremendous pressure following an embarrassing 295-run defeat in Perth. There are doubts regarding the calibre of the batting unit after pacer Josh Hazlewood criticised them during the first Test. However, Carey expressed that the players are calm, and they understand that it’s a long series and will be hoping to bounce back.

“It's quite a big reaction externally for one Test loss. Internally, we don't feel that. We didn't play the way we would have liked to have played, but we know over four, five Test matches, [if] we keep rocking up and playing our style of cricket we will have the success. We've had that success to call upon [and] the method does work. We're calm internally, and we're excited to get back out and play and play a better style of cricket,” Carey said.