Questions linger as brothers fail again

SHAUN Marsh is fighting for his Test match future after going backwards at a time when Australia desperately needed him to step up.

Australia slumped to their second crippling collapse in as many games last night to leave their once bright hopes of breaking through for a rare win in Asia hanging by the barest of threads in the series decider in Abu Dhabi.

The meek submission was a hollow follow-up to their lastday heroics in the first Test and highlighted just how vulnerable Australia are to an ambush by India this summer and the pressure that is now on struggling brothers Shaun and Mitchell to stand up.

Key men coming into this series, the brothers were at the heart of a crushing start to day two in which Australia was bowled out for a meagre 145 – still 137 runs in arrears.

After resuming at 2-20, Shaun Marsh lasted just nine balls before he edged yet another delivery from Mohammad Abbas (4-29), the unlikely 130km/h medium pacer who is skittling Australians like he’s Imran Khan.

Mitchell was caught behind off Yasir Shah for 13 having already been dropped down to No.5 in the order.

As the loudspeaker blasted Hunters and Collectors’ classic Holy Grail across the desolate stadium, Australia were forced to confront the huge opportunity they had blown having had Pakistan 5-57 on day one.

The second innings will be hugely decisive in whether one of Australian cricket’s enigmas Shaun Marsh survives for the home summer with Matt Renshaw sweating on a return in the top three to face India.

Mike Hussey said Shaun Marsh’s future was on the line.

“In reality, at the end of the day, you do need to be scoring runs,” Hussey said. “There’s going to be a lot of discussion about his place in the team.”

In reply, Pakistan was 1-51 at tea.