Shoulder injury ends Marsh’s county season

SHAUN Marsh’s English county season is over because of a shoulder injury, the latest blow to Australia’s depleted batting stocks.

Marsh, pictured, who suffered the setback while trying to stop a boundary for Glamorgan during a Twenty20 game, is returning home for further assessment.

Marsh could yet be fit for Australia’s tour of the United Arab Emirates, where it will face Pakistan in the first Test series under new coach Justin Langer.

The schedule for that tour is yet to be locked in but it’s expected to take place in early October, leaving Marsh potentially 12 weeks to rest and recover from ligament damage and disruption in his AC joint.

The worst-case scenario for the 35-year-old is that followup scans in Perth deliver bad news and it is decided he requires surgery to repair the ligaments. He impressed with the bat during last summer’s Ashes and he scored two tons during Australia’s recent 5-0 ODI series loss to England.

The veteran, if fit, looms as one of the first players chosen in a new-look Test batting order.

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft are still under ban and will be unavailable. Marsh’s younger brother Mitch is recovering from ankle surgery. It means a spot at No.6 could potentially be up for grabs.

Batsmen Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head and Matthew Renshaw will also take part in that Australia A tour, which Langer and selectors are using as a Test selection trial.