Marsh’s future in the balance

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

Australia slumped to their second 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 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 brothers Shaun and Mitchell to stand up.

Key men coming into this series, Shaun and Mitchell were at the heart of a crushing start to day two, which set off a chain of falling wickets that left Australia all out for 145 and allowed Pakistan to return to the crease just before tea.

After resuming at 2-20, Shaun Marsh lasted just nine balls before he edged yet another delivery from Mohammad Abbas (4-29), the 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 & Collectors classic Holy Grail across the desolate stadium, Australia had to confront the massive chance they had blown having had Pakistan in all sorts of strife at 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.

Test great Mike Hussey said on Widen Radio that Marsh’s future is on the line.

“At the end of the day, you do need to be scoring runs,” Hussey said. Marsh has failed to pass 50 in his past 11 Test innings this year at an average of just 14.

Fox Cricket analyst Mark Waugh said Shaun’s problem is he likes to feel bat on ball early in his innings and that he’s got to start waiting for the ball to come rather than pushing at it.