Marsh in battle for spot

AUSTRALIAN vi c e- c aptai n Mitchell Marsh is fighting for his Test future in a tense selection showdown with Peter Handscomb.

Marsh is the slight favourite to retain his Test place but Australia is yet to guarantee him a spot as it assesses conditions and team balance for tomorrow’s first Test against India in Adelaide.

Opener Marcus Harris and middle order batsman Travis Head are both set to play.

When Marsh left Australian shores at the end of the last summer for South Africa, it seemed a formality he would be a routine selection this season after a breakthrough Ashes series which reaped 320 runs at 106.

But after managing a robust 96 in the first innings of the first Test against South Africa in Durban, Marsh has made only one score above 16 in his past 11 Test innings against South Africa and Pakistan.

Marsh can be comforted his greatest selection room ally is the weighty voice of Australian coach Justin Langer, who is normally given the team he wants.

But the fact the rookie Head and the debutant Harris appear to have been inked in ahead of him is a clear sign Marsh needs to improve on his record of just five scores over 50 in 51 Test knocks.

Marsh has smacked 151, 1, 44, 6 and 30 while taking five wickets in three Sheffield Shield games since returning from the UAE.

“After the UAE there is no doubt there are a few question marks over me, so I am just really pumped if selected to get out and play,” Marsh said.