Marsh ton proves selectors right: Ponting

Mitchell Marsh's pulverising maiden Test century has once again vindicated Australia's bold selectors, says Test great Ricky Ponting.

Marsh made his Test return on his home turf in place of Victoria's Peter Handscomb and repaid the faith with a brutal 181no alongside skipper Steve Smith (229no) to leave England completely demoralised at stumps on day three.

Australia's National Selection Panel were scrutinised for picking the likes of Cameron Bancroft, Tim Paine and Marsh's older brother Shaun at the start of the summer, but two-and-a-half Tests in each pick can fairly easily be argued to be a winner.

While Marsh has said he's stopped reading comments on social media after it made him feel "shit", Ponting says today's knock was not about silencing his critics but instilling the necessary self-belief to thrive at Test level.

"It's about realising you can do it for yourself," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"That's the thing, he would've felt that the opportunities he's had before he hasn't quite capitalised on and now that he's been given this opportunity he's grabbed it with both hands and I hope it's the start of something really special for him.

"There has been a lot of 'noise' about Mitchell Marsh and his selection back in the team again.

"Have the selectors made the wrong or the right call? I think it's been proven again they've made the right call.

Ponting added: "There wouldn't be a person in Australia that's not happy seeing Mitchell Marsh doing what he's doing at the moment.

"He would have been under pressure coming into the game, he put a chance down early on as well, probably didn't bowl as well as he would've liked.

"But from the moment he's been out there he's hit pretty much everything in the middle of the bat.

"It just goes to show the talent that he's got.

"Some of the striking and how clean and pure the striking has been today, this could be the start of a really long and successful international career now.

"It seems like he's unlocked something within himself and he can go and play with a bit of freedom and he now knows he's got the game to succeed at Test level, which is really important."

At the other end was Smith, the indomitable Australia captain who again rewrote the history books.

Ponting said earlier in the series Smith could be the best batsman since the immortal Sir Donald Bradman and it's clear, like opponents of The Don, England have no idea how to dismiss the unorthodox right-hander.

To the point where members of the England camp asked Ponting for inside information on how to remove Smith, who batted the entire day to record his highest Test match score and second double-century.

"You look at the other better players in the world; Virat Kohli is on a pretty high pedestal but then you look at Joe Root and Kane Williamson, as far as I'm concerned those guys are nowhere near as good as Steven Smith and I've said that for a long time," Ponting said.

"I even had England players come to me this morning saying 'Just give us something on Smith. What are we going to bowl to Smith?'.

"And I said, 'Look, one, I'm not going to tell you. And two, I don't know anyway because it seems like he's got every base covered.'

"You look at his wagon wheel, he's got boundaries almost all around the ground and there's no obvious weakness and with his appetite for runs that he's got he'll just keep batting forever.

"Imagine him back in the day when there were Timeless Tests he would've just batted forever!"

As for England, who started the day with a lead of 200 and ended it 146 runs behind, Ponting says he can't see the visitors picking themselves up off the canvas.

"I'm not sure I've ever seen a flatter team in the field ever," he said.

"They had an opportunity coming to the ground this morning still 200 runs in front and they might have thought if they could take an early wicket that they might have been right in the game and still driving the game and here we are five hours later and they're out of the game.

Ponting continued: "You know what's going to happen, when Australia bowl with a decent lead on the board it's going to look like a different wicket again.

"Whenever you're behind on the first innings and you go out to bat on what looks like a very flat pitch you've got three guys bowling 90mph, it's not going to be easy for them.

"These cracks are getting a little bit wider, that would be inside the batter's mind.

"I don't care what anyone says, they do get inside your mind a little bit when you can see them down the middle of the wicket.

"They're going to have to find something special with the ball to get Australia out in the first place but when they get their chance to bat with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood running in with a good lead on the board it will be interesting to see how they play."

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