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Marsh hamstrung ahead of first Test

WA batsman sustains hamstring tear, now racing the clock to be fit for series opener against Proteas

Incumbent opener Shaun Marsh is racing to be fit for Australia's first Test of the summer against South Africa after suffering a hamstring tear in WA's Matador Cup clash against Tasmania on Saturday. 

Marsh, who missed Australia's ODI tour of South Africa as he recovered from a broken finger, made 70 in his side's crucial win at North Sydney Oval, was seen to be limping and in discomfort throughout his innings, with a brief press release from WA Cricket describing the injury as a "low grade tear". 

Marsh makes important 70


"Marsh will return to Perth where he will undergo rehabilitation with a view to being available for selection for the First Test of the Commonwealth Bank Test Series against South Africa at the WACA Ground next month," the release stated.

Marsh returned to the Test side for the final match in Sri Lanka, replacing Queenslander Joe Burns, and promptly made a fine 130 - his second Test century in as many matches after a career-best 182 against West Indies last summer. 

The left-hander, who has played 18 Tests since debuting with a century in September 2011, said last month that he'd taken a conservative approach to his recovery from breaking a finger, setting his sights on the Test summer as opposed to rushing back for the ODI series in South Africa. 

"I was lucky enough to get another opportunity in Sri Lanka and do well, so hopefully that puts me in good stead leading into the summer," Marsh, who has played just nine of Australia's 23 Tests in the past two years, told News Ltd.

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"I’m hungry to keep being really consistent in Test cricket now, which I probably haven’t been in my career to date.

"But to wait for my opportunity and finally get back in the Test team, and then break a finger, which I’ve never done before ... it’s been extremely frustrating.

"I was hoping to go to South Africa, and I was sort of happy to go over there and play with risk.

"We thought the smart decision was to take a few extra weeks and give the finger the full six weeks that it needs to make sure it’s 100 per cent ahead of the summer."

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The first Test begins in Perth on November 3, leaving Marsh less than three weeks to prove his fitness. 

Queensland pair Burns and Usman Khawaja, who were both dropped in Sri Lanka, would likely be the lead candidates to replace the 33-year-old.