Recalled opener along for the ride
ENGLAND’S bid to claw back some much-needed dignity following the Ashes series humiliation starts in the first one-day international at the MCG tomorrow.
But recalled opener Shaun Marsh will be trying to continue the Poms’ summer of pain as he looks to re-establish himself in the Aussie side.
The West Australian has played 41 ODIs to date, the last being in September, and ironically against tomorrow’s opponents, when he scored 25 in the three-wicket loss in Cardiff.
That defeat was not the only disappointment for Marsh – he injured his hamstring in the game, something that ruled him out of Australia’s limited-overs tour of India in October.
Now some solid domestic form has got him back in the international arena and he’s determined to state his case for a regular start.
However, the 30-year-old is aware it won’t be easy with big-hitting openers Aaron Finch and David Warner also in the squad, so he’s prepared for change and says he’s ready to bat down the order if the selectors want him to.
“I’m pretty flexible in the batting order,” Marsh said.
“Over the next few days I’ll get an understanding of whether I’m in the team or what sort of role they want me to play.
“It’s another good opportunity for me to play well and try to cement my place in the team so there’s a lot to play for.”
Marsh, who averages 38.20 in his ODI career with a best of 151 against Scotland in Edinburgh last year, is hungry to make to most of his call-up.
“I did spend a fair bit of time out of the team. I had to get a lot of runs in one-day cricket over the last 12 months to get an opportunity again,” the lefthander said.
“I feel like my domestic oneday form has been pretty good, but now I have got to carry that into the (national) team now and put scores on the board if I get my chance.”
Meanwhile, England captain Alastair Cook looks set to be without fast bowler Stuart Broad for the first clash in the five-match series.
Broad, like his Aussie rival Mitchell Johnson, may be rested following the 5-0 mauling in the Test series.
Saturday, January 11, 2014