Geoff Lawson wants Australia to change their selection approach

Former Australian cricketer Geoff Lawson has a sharp take on the selection of Mitchell Marsh for the upcoming Test series against India and it is about getting rid of the batting all-rounder. The 60-year-old former player even went to the extent of saying that Mitchell’s Test career was over. Mitchell, son of former Australian opener Geoff Marsh and brother of Shaun Marsh, is just 27.

Three days ahead of the first Test against India starting in Adelaide on December 6, the hosts are still thinking over combinations for the final XI. The Marsh brothers are in the squad of 14 and Mitchell is one of the vice-captains along with bowler Josh Hazlewood. The Baggy Greens are particularly trying to fix their opening pair and the No.3 slot which is likely to be manned by Usman Khawaja.

“Given the 14 they’ve named, Peter Siddle and Chris Tremain are the extra fast bowlers … they are not going to get a run at the moment. The other person I would leave out is Mitchell Marsh,” Lawson told Bill & Boz on Fox Sports on Sunday.

Explaining his strong stand on Mitchell, Lawson said the right-hand batsman has had his opportunities but didn’t deliver and also he did not bowl much either. In 30 Tests he played since making debut in 2014, Mitchell has scored 1,200 runs at an average of just over 26 and two hundreds. In first-class cricket, he averages over 32 while in the ODIs, it is less than 36.

Mitchell had his opportunity

“Mitchell Marsh has had his opportunity. He’s averaging 26 over 30 odd Test matches, he’s hardly bowling at all,” Lawson, who has had international coaching assignments in the past said his vote was for Travis Head, who hails from Adelaide and according to the former, “on the way up”.

Lawson said Mitchell was not providing any value as all-rounder and wanted both Peter Handcomb and Head to play in Adelaide though reports suggested that either of them could miss the game. As openers, Lawson favoured Aaron Finch and newcomer Marcus Harris.

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