Marsh the last hope for struggling Australia
Australian cricket’s whipping boy Shaun Marsh shapes as his side’s best hope of winning the first test against India which history suggests is nearimpossible.
Australia, set an imposing target of 323 at Adelaide Oval, reached 104-4 at stumps on day four yesterday.
Marsh is unbeaten on 31 from 92 balls, having occupied the crease for more time than any other batsman in Australia’s second innings.
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 35-year-old is also likely to draw confidence from negotiating yesterday’s final session plus last month’s Sheffield Shield knock of 163 not out in Adelaide, where he helped Western Australia to overhaul a target of 313.
But the mountain confronting the much-maligned veteran today is more confronting for several reasons, with Australia still 219 runs away from a record-breaking win.
The highest-successful run chase in an Adelaide test is Australia’s 315-6, achieved in 1902 against England, while no side has hunted down more than 236 at the venue since West Indies in 1982.
India’s prospects of recording their first test win in Australia since 2008, and their maiden test series win in Australia, were already strong when resuming yesterday at 151-3.
They were enhanced by first-inning centurion Cheteshwar Pujara, who top-scored again with 71 to make it 11 hours at the crease in the low-scoring contest.
Nathan Lyon grabbed 6-122 as India posted a second-innings total of 307.
Loose strokes from Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb served as the latest reminder of Australia’s reliance on banned stars Steve Smith and David Warner in recent years.
The slump started when Aaron Finch ended the post-lunch session, caught at bat-pad for 11. Replays suggested the ball didn’t flick the gloves, meaning Finch would have been reprieved if he had reviewed.
Finch had already referred a lbw verdict in the first over of the innings, only avoiding the ignominy of a pair because replays showed Ishant Sharma delivered a no-ball. India 250 and 307 (C Pujara 71, A Rahane 70, K Rahul 44, V Kohli 34; N Lyon 6-122, M Starc 3-40) v Australia 235 and 104-4 (S Marsh 31no). Australia need 323 to win.