Cam may still be too Green

MITCHELL Marsh’s dressing room punch has almost certainly ruled him out of the rest of the summer.

When the Ashes-winning star put his fist through the WACA dressing room wall last month in anger after being dismissed in the lead-up to the first Test, it was initially hoped Marsh would be available for the second half of the summer.

However, Marsh’s recovery from fractures in his hand has not progressed as hoped and national selection chairman Trevor Hohns said the 28-year-old was virtually no chance of being available if needed against New Zealand.

Marsh’s brain-snap has cost him dearly, particularly at a time when the No.6 spot was his for the taking.

“He’s pretty doubtful at the moment,” Hohns said.

“The latest info we have on him is his hand was coming out of a splint very, very soon. He was yet to do any hitting with the bat so he will be monitored over the next couple of weeks.

“(All-rounder options) are thin on the ground, without disrespecting anybody.

“Of course there’s Mitchell Marsh and then there’s Marcus Stoinis and then there’s young Cameron Green, who is probably not ready yet either.

“He’s not able to bowl too much, but he is a very good up and coming young player. We’d have to have a look at that if we require an all-rounder and we would only require one if we were going to play two specialist spinners in Sydney.”

Hohns ticked off on an unchanged squad yesterday.

Captain Tim Paine has a sore finger but Hohns insists he will soldier on, while Mitchell Starc’s issues pertain to a cut on his big toe and nothing to do with ligaments or bones.

Australia’s biggest headache will come for the third and final Test against New Zealand. Hohns said selectors would have to consider resting the fast bowlers considering how close the Boxing Day and New Years’ Tests were together — possibly opening the door for a return for James Pattinson or a debut for Queenslander Michael Neser.

Neser will keep his body in tune by playing Sheffield Shield.

The other complication is the hunt for a second spinner to accompany Nathan Lyon at the SCG, and then push for selection on next year’s tour of Bangladesh. Ashton Agar would appear the frontrunner, although Hohns declined to nominate names.