MARSH ON A MISSION

Whipping boy’s big chance to silence the critics

AUSTRALIAN cricket’s whipping boy Shaun Marsh shapes as his side’s best hope of winning the first Test against India which history — and conventional wisdom — suggests is near impossible.

Australia, set an imposing target of 323 at Adelaide Oval, had reached 4-104 at stumps on day four.

Marsh was unbeaten on 31 from 92 balls, having occupied the crease for more time than any other batsman in Australia’s second innings, while Travis Head was 11 not out.

Marsh has history when it comes to resisting India, having batted out 62 overs on day five to help secure a draw last year in Ranchi.

The highest successful run chase in an Adelaide Test is Australia’s 6-315, achieved in 1902 against England, while no side has hunted down more than 236 at the venue since the West Indies in 1982.

AUSTRALIAN success in Adelaide rests on the shoulders of Shaun Marsh.

And whether you like him or not, the whipping boy of Australian cricket has the chance to deliver his own knockout blow and play an innings to secure Test passage until he wants to stop.

With local lad Travis Head (11 not out) by his side, Marsh (31 not out) worked his way to stumps on day four against an electric Indian outfit, finally staring at a scoreboard which delivered the only message the batting pair needed to take to bed.

“Australia needs 219 runs to win” was writ large in bright lights, the difference between going to Perth for the second encounter tails up, or chasing them, hard. It’s a win-or-lose situation. A draw should be 100-1.”

India has never lost a match when talismanic captain Virat Kohli wins the toss and, after calling correctly on day one, his teammates guided the determined tourists into pole position.

A six-wicket second-innings haul from Australia’s best bowler Nathan Lyon, and some willing late-order Indian batting, was all that stood between the home team and no chance to win at all.

The task was set at 323 with time not a problem but history shouting “no way” to the Aussie batsmen who deserve patience, not pressure, according to the coaching staff.

Opener Aaron Finch nearly contributed nothing to the fight, before a no-ball allowed him to notch up his first 11 Test runs in Australia. He could have wiped more off the chase but not for a “naive” decision not to review what looked like another wrong call from quick-draw English umpire Nigel Llong.

Marcus Harris and then Usman Khawaja played shots not at all suited to the occasion as their rushing blood made everyone else’s boil. Khawaja was a national hero in October when he batted for eight hours in the desert to draw a match for his rookie teammates. But he couldn’t even stomach a 60minute fight this time around, and “gave his wicket away” according to Allan Border, the man so many would have bat for their lives.

“A few short weeks ago he played one of the innings of his life. He was playing tough. Hanging tough. He’s one of the senior players too. You don’t want to give your wicket away,” Border said on the ABC.

So it falls to Marsh, the next most experienced, but oldest player in Justin Langer’s line-up, to deliver on the message the coach sent by selecting him.

It was only three weeks ago too when Marsh was his own state’s super hero, making 163 not out, to chase down 313 and win a match. It was an innings that gave Langer every tick he needed to keep his man.

But that was in the Sheffield Shield, and Ravi Ashwin wasn’t playing for SA.