ENGLAND SWEAT AFTER MARSH TON
▶ A review lost in chasing big score but coach Bayliss talks of a ‘good feeling in the dressing room’
Shaun Marsh answered his critics with a fighting, unbeaten century to put Australia firmly in charge of the second Ashes Test against England in Adelaide yesterday.
The experienced left-hander, in his eighth recall to the Australia team, put together his fifth century in his 25th Test, an unconquered 126 off 231 balls which lifted the home side to 442-8 declared.
When rain brought an early finish to Day 2, the tourists were 29-1 and trailing the Australians by 413 runs with three days remaining. Marsh, along with wicketkeeper Tim Paine, were the major surprises in the Australia squad for the first two Tests when announced.
Wicketkeeper Paine, who cracked 57 off 102 balls and shared an 85-run stand with Marsh, took a couple of painful blows on his right index finger which he shattered seven years ago.
He had eight pins and a metal plate inserted into the fractured finger, which caused him to lose his spot in the Test side back in 2010.
But the day belonged to Marsh, 34, who staked his claim for retention with another solid innings at No 6.
He backed up his 51 in Brisbane to bring his series tally to 177 runs and strengthen Australia’s middle order. “There’s a lot of relief there. I’m just really happy,” Marsh said. “I haven’t thought about all the incidental noise [criticism] and my selection for the team.
“I’ve just tried to come in and feel nice and relaxed. I’ve felt good about my game the last three or four months.”
Of the criticism before the series about his selection, Marsh added: “I didn’t read a thing. I knew there was some extra noise but I just stayed away and focused on preparing well. Six months ago I wasn’t sure whether I’d be back here. I’d always dreamt of getting back in.”
Marsh was the bulwark of the Australian innings, hitting 15 fours and a towering six off Stuart Broad in his first Ashes Test hundred.
“We got a message just before tea that Smithy [captain Steve Smith] wanted to up the ante a bit and gave us free range,” he said of his late lusty hitting ahead of the declaration.
Marsh had a nervous few moments after seeking a review when he was given out leg before wicket on 29 to James Anderson.
But the decision was overturned when the review projected that the ball would have gone over the stumps.
“I probably thought it was outside leg more than going over,” Marsh recalled.
“When I saw the ball pitch in line I thought I might have been in a bit of trouble.”
The tourists had several calls go against them on Day 2, apart from the lbw appeal against Marsh.
Anderson was frustrated a second time, much to the delight of the 52,000 home crowd, when a review denied him again after Paine on 24 had been given out lbw on the field.
And when they went into bat, Mitchell Starc struck in the seventh over, trapping Mark Stoneman lbw.
Alastair Cook was on 11 with James Vince yet to score in the first-ever Ashes day-night Test.
Stoneman wasted a review, which only confirmed the umpire’s decision, to end a dire day for the tourists.
“There’s a good feeling in the dressing room,” England coach Trevor Bayliss said, putting a positive slant on his team’s predicament.
“They’re certainly not disheartened at all. Shaun showed it’s not impossible to score runs out there.
“It will be up to one or two of our guys to go out and make a big score, not just 40 or 50.”
England, who lost the first Test in Brisbane by 10 wickets last week, cannot afford to lose again in Adelaide, where Australia have won the two daynight Tests, against New Zealand and South Africa.
Paine (57) shared an 85-run stand with Marsh (126). Both were the major surprises in the Australian squad when announced