Profile
A decade after playing his first game for Western Australia as a 17-year-old, made an assured 141 on Test debut at first drop at Pallekele, Sri Lanka, in September.
His cap was presented by his father, the former Test opener Geoff Marsh, who was moved to tears when his son reached his hundred. Shaun later admitted that after striking his maiden first-class ton against Steve Waugh’s NSW in 2003, he took for granted that an international career would soon follow.
Despite making his ODI debut in the West Indies in 2008, he had to wait much longer to play Test cricket. Held the No.3 position when Ricky Ponting returned from family leave as part of Michael Clarke’s plan to regenerate the the top order, with Ponting shifting to No.4.
Emerging from the backyard net in country WA a more aggressive shotmaker than his father but possessing the same determination.
Has been troubled by back and hamstring injuries, and was forced to bat down the order in the second innings of Australia’s shock defeat in Cape Town because of a stiff back.
The injury forced him home from the tour, missing the second and final Test of the series.
Produced his maiden ODI century, a run-a-ball 112, against India in November 2009 but it was overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar’s rampaging 175.
His younger brother Mitchell is an exciting allrounder who made his limited overs debut for Australia in October.
