The key factor to Marsh selection

The WACA Ground pitch will determine whether allrounder Mitchell Marsh makes his Test comeback in Thursday's third Magellan Ashes Test, according to Australia coach Darren Lehmann.

Marsh was drafted into Australia's 13-man squad for the third Test at the expense of South Australia seamer Chadd Sayers, with the Western Australian's form with the bat and successful return to the bowling crease earning him selection.

The WACA pitch has again favoured batsmen this summer and with six centuries amassed in two JLT Sheffield Shield matches – including 141 to Marsh – while the two-day tour match between England and a WA XI at the start of the season produced fast and high scoring.

With the workloads of Australia's star pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins closely monitored this series, Marsh's ability to bowl 5-10 handy overs to give the quicks a rest could give him the nod.

But Lehmann says it will depend on the wicket.

"They (WACA groundstaff) said it's going to have some pace and bounce in it, a bit like the old WACA," Lehmann told reporters in Perth on Sunday.

"We'll just have to wait and see. It's pretty hot this week so we'll have a better idea probably on Tuesday or Wednesday of what we're going to go with."

The fact that Marsh is even being considered for selection is a remarkable turn of events. He underwent shoulder surgery in March after he was sent home midway through the Qantas Tour of India where he struggled to bowl and throw.

The 26-year-old had not bowled in a first-class match for nine months before he threw caution to the wind and sent down nine overs on the final day of WA's Shield clash with Queensland late last month.

He sent down a further 13 overs at the MCG this week which was enough to convince Australia's selectors he was capable of bowling in the heat of Test cricket, where he has 29 wickets from 21 matches at 37.48.

Coupled with his efforts with the ball, Marsh has scored 402 Shield runs at 44.66 this summer, and could now reclaim a place in Australia's Test team.

"We've got all the reports back and JL (WA coach Justin Langer) has been really impressed with him," Lehmann said.

"He surprised by bowling a couple of games ago, he surprised us as well to be perfectly honest.

"His batting has been exceptional all summer and he's led from the front as captain. He deserves his chance.

"Other people might be unlucky to miss out but Mitchell fills the role we need for this particular Test match."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21