Wild punch puts Marsh in doubt

TEST all-rounder Mitch Marsh has injured his bowling hand after punching a dressing-room wall during Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield draw with Tasmania.

Marsh will have scans on his right hand after reacting angrily to his dismissal on yesterday’s final day at the WACA Ground in Perth.

Australia’s incumbent No. 6 had reached 53 in WA’s second innings before being caught and bowled by Jackson Bird in the first over of play.

“We’re concerned that he wouldn’t have been able to bowl today,” Warriors coach Adam Voges said — after Ashton Agar guided the hosts to a draw.

“We’ll have to wait and see … all I know is that his hand is sore.”

Left-arm paceman Joel Paris is also facing a stint on the sidelines after batting through a hamstring injury with the assistance of a runner in Cameron Bancroft.

Paris (23no) combined with Agar (76no) for an 85-run 10th-wicket partnership after lunch to ensure the hosts escaped with a draw.

The pair piloted WA to 9-383 — a lead of 323 runs — before the opposing captains shook hands shortly before tea.

Their defiant stand dashed any Tasmanian hopes of pulling off an unlikely victory, which had seemed a possibility when Jackson Bird ripped through WA’s tail.

Having scored a droughtbreaking century on day three, Australian Test skipper Tim Paine provided another highlight when he gloved a superb diving catch down the legside to dismiss Cameron Green for a duck off the bowling of Bird. But he could only watch in frustration as Agar and Paris steered WA to safety.