Marsh the cure to our woes
ALEX Carey insists Australia won’t buckle under the “pressure” of a record losing streak in one-dayers and says Shaun Marsh is the antidote to its batting woes.
Australia, which has lost its past seven one-dayers, faces South Africa at Adelaide Oval tomorrow in Game 2 of the three-match series.
“We don’t feel under pressure internally,’’ vice-captain Carey said. “We are really confident, have a lot of good players at the top of the list there.
“We want to win, it’s what we are playing for, and the pressure is to start performing.
“What we are doing away from game day is sensational, so it will turn really quickly.
“We want to make fans proud of us again and it is about doing that, the tough cricket we are good at playing, respectfully, but fair.”
Australia is sixth in the ICC one-day rankings, just above Bangladesh, six months before the World Cup in England.
Marsh, 35, missed the sixwicket loss to the Proteas in Perth on Sunday following surgery to remove an abscess on his buttock.
Coach Justin Langer will be desperate to reinstate Marsh — who has a one-day international average of 40 — after his side was dismissed for 152 in Game 1. Australia has lost 17 of its past 19 one-day games.
Marsh floundered in two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month, but struck two tons in the 5-0 one-day whitewash by England in June.
“He’s pretty positive that he’ll be right for Friday,” Carey said. “We definitely have the players to bat deep and Shaun Marsh is a really good player to do that.”
Australia must improve in the power play. It made only 19 runs in Perth off the first 10 overs against an attack led by Dale Steyn, failing to register a boundary. Carey backed skipper Aaron Finch for a big score and noted Travis Head’s maid- en ODI ton came in Adelaide against India two years ago.
Carey said the Proteas were due a dose of “Lynnsanity”, after Chris Lynn, batting at No.4, made only 15.
“Chris showed in the JLT Cup he has two sides: can go out and smack them from ball one or bat through,” he said
Australia is expected to recall leg-spinner Adam Zampa or Ashton Agar.