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Marsh ton underlines his claim for Test berth

Australia could be preparing to set aside Usman Khawaja after big home summer as 'horses for courses' policy takes hold

At the depth of Australia's unforeseen capitulation to Sri Lanka last year, Steve Smith – in his quest for answers and solace – foreshadowed a 'horses for courses' selection policy for future campaigns he would lead to Asia.

That thought bubble was floated at Galle, where his team had been twice bowled out for less than 200 and were caned with more than a day to spare.

The next Test in Colombo yielded a similar result, but saw several key selection changes including the recall of Shaun Marsh in the role of opener, where he duly scored Australia's first century of the series.

And the exclusion of No.3 batter Usman Khawaja who had very publicly struggled against spin at Galle and whose Test batting average in Asia fell to below 20 (19.17).

Therefore, the decision to include Marsh – who has not been part of Australia's Test set-up since he fractured a finger in Perth at the start of an ultimately tumultuous home summer – ahead of Khawaja for the current three-day tour match in Mumbai was interpreted by many as the embodiment of that 'horses for courses' ethos.

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After all, Khawaja had played quite likely the innings of that summer in Adelaide when he scored a century against a rampant South Africa and the pink ball under lights, and followed up with sizeable scores in the next two Tests.

But while the playing XI for the tour match against an India A outfit was warming up at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium on Friday, Khawaja cut a conspicuous figure in a practice net on the opposite side of the sprawling wicket block.

Image Id: 76E7E85B58214420A178CB3741F19EA4 Image Caption: Smith and Marsh starred for Australia in Mumbai // cricket.com.au

Facing up to the squad's auxiliary spinners Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson, adding fuel to suggestions he's not in favour for a gallop on the spin-conducive courses that await at Test venues Pune, Bengaluru, Ranchi and Dharamsala.

That conclusion was unavoidable by the end of a day in which Marsh had rattled on to another equally timely hundred, and Australia had posted 5-327 that gave heart to hopes they have discovered a way to play on Asian pitches.

"Not at all," was Marsh's typically self-effacing response when asked at day's end if he had received any inkling that he figures indelibly in Australia's plans for the Test series starting next Thursday.

"I'll just prepare as best I can until they pick the team.

"It's all you can do."

Marsh reflects on great day for Australia in Mumbai

But if the 'horses for courses' philosophy that Smith floated, and which was subsequently echoed by coach and national selector Darren Lehmann, is more than merely a throwaway response then Marsh should start saddling up.

Whether it's in the guise of opener – that he filled in place of Joe Burns in Colombo last year – or further down the order (such as the No.4 berth he assumed yesterday) remains a live question.

Should he be chosen to open in place of incumbent Matthew Renshaw, who scored a not-so-fluent 11 in almost an hour and half yesterday and was placed on notice last month that he was no guarantee to keep his spot for the India Tests – then Khawaja might well return to No.3.

But should Renshaw be deemed up to the assignment, then Marsh could slot in at No.3 – the position where he famously announced himself as a Test cricketer with a century on debut in Sri Lanka almost six years ago.

But which is the one spot he hasn't filled since a catastrophic loss of form saw him jettisoned from Test cricket for the first time less than six months later.

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"It doesn't really matter to be honest," Marsh said when asked if he held a preference on where in the batting order best suits his game that is plainly well suited to Asia where he averages almost 80 from three Tests played.

"I feel pretty flexible within the batting order so we'll see what happens.

"If you're batting down in the middle-order you're probably coming in against spin, whereas if you're opening you're probably playing against the quicker bowlers.

"I've played a lot of cricket over here (in Asia), whether it's one-day cricket, IPL cricket or Test cricket in Sri Lanka so I feel comfortable out there.

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"It's a place where I've always enjoyed coming and playing.

"I always find it a really good challenge.

"I haven't played Test cricket (in India) yet, but these pitches will take spin like Sri Lanka did so we know what conditions we're going to get.

"It's just about us being ready for it, and players having a really strong game plan and sticking to it.

"It's going to be fun."


SCORECARD


India A v Australia, three-day match, Mumbai


AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS 

David Warner c Kishan b Saini, 25 (30 balls, 4 x 4)

Matthew Renshaw c Kishan b Saini, 11 (41 balls 1 x 4)

Steve Smith retired out, 107 (161 balls, 12 x 4, 1 x 6)

Shaun Marsh retired out, 104 (173 balls, 11 x 4, 1 x 6)

Peter Handscomb ct Panchal b Pandya, 45 (70 balls, 3 x 4)

Mitchell Marsh not out, 16 (43 balls, 3 x 4)

Matthew Wade not out, 7 (28 balls, 1 x 4)


Glenn Maxwell


Steve O'Keefe


Jackson Bird


Nathan Lyon


TOTAL 3-327, 90 OVERS


BOWLING FIGURES 


Asoke Dinda: 15.2-1-49-0


Hardik Pandya: 17-3-64-1


Navdeep Saini: 12.4-4-27-2


Shahbaz Nadeem: 23-0-90-0


Akhil Herwadkar: 11-0-48-0


Shreyas Iyer: 7-0-32-0


PK Panchal: 4-0-11-0

Australia XI: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Mitch Marsh, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon

India A XI: Hardyik Pandya (c), Priyank Panchal, Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer, Ankit Bawane, Rishab Pant, Ishan Kishan (wk), K Gowtham, Ashok Dinda, Shabaz Nadeem, Navdeep Saini. Reserves: B Indrajith, Rahul Singh, Mohammad Siraj

Sri Lanka taught me lots about captaincy: Smith

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 17-19, Tour match v India A, Mumbai


Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune


Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru


Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi


Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala