Marsh wears contacts after tests reveal poor sight

SHAUN Marsh had a problem with his eyesight picked up before the second Ashes Test and wore contact lenses for the first time when he made his unbeaten century at Adelaide Oval.

The Australian Test players were offered eye checks as part of Cricket Australia’s new sponsorship deal with Specsavers, where Marsh’s problem was identified.

Marsh was man-of-thematch in the second Test for his unbeaten 126, which breathed new life into his stopstart international career.

The West Australian lefthander’s improved vision didn’t assist him yesterday, when he was dismissed for 28 edging a sharp turning Moeen Ali delivery to slip.

Marsh’s former Test and current Perth Scorchers teammate Mitchell Johnson was stunned that the 34-year-old had immediate success batting with contact lenses.

“I just find that absolutely phenomenal, because I wore contact lenses when I played in the back half of my career and the depth perception changes,” Johnson said.

“So, I don’t know how he’s done it. I really don’t.

“Because it would be unbelievably hard to do it. I just don’t get it.

“They said his eyes were quite bad. He couldn’t really see the ball, I think he was just guessing.”

A Cricket Australia spokesperson described Marsh’s eyesight problem as minor.

Several Australia players already played wearing contact lenses, including fast bowler Pat Cummins and batsman Usman Khawaja.