More pieces added to selection jigsaw

A standout performance with the ball from allrounder Mitch Marsh in Australia’s 111-run thrashing of England has further muddied the selection waters as the co-hosts await the returns of injured duo Michael Clarke and James Faulkner.

Marsh was outstanding in claiming 5-33 with his medium-fast offerings, all of which were top seven batsmen in what was comfortably the finest bowling performance of the 23-year-old’s blossoming career. 

Prior to this breakthrough effort, he had six wickets in 14 ODIs, with a previous best of 2-23.

Marsh also had an impact with the bat, striking three boundaries in his 20-ball innings of 23 as Australia chased quick runs late in their innings.

Yet it's the manner in which Marsh tore through England’s batting line-up that will add most considerably to his stocks in the eyes of Australia’s National Selection Panel, who will face a difficult decision when Faulkner recovers from his current side strain injury and returns to an XI that on Saturday included three allrounders.

"I think Mitch offers a lot with the ball," said Australia’s centurion Aaron Finch post-match.

"He's someone who is very consistent, and that wicket suited medium-pace bowling; it was a wicket that was starting to slow up a little through the middle and he bowled good balls, hit good areas and got rewarded.

"There was some beautiful catching there as well and that makes it all the more pleasing, that he did bowl well but he got backed up in the field."

Australia boast four allrounders in their 15-man World Cup squad - Marsh, Faulkner, Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell.

Given the quality of Marsh’s display today, Maxwell's good recent form and the fact that Faulkner’s match-winning ability makes him a near automatic selection in Australia’s best XI, the pressure could fall on Watson, who received a superb delivery from Stuart Broad first-up on Saturday and was promptly dismissed without scoring.

Finch was also full of praise for Maxwell, whose string of high scores continued courtesy of a brutal 66 from 40 deliveries. 

"Everybody’s seen the capabilities Glenn’s got when he’s confident and when he’s playing well,” Finch said of his state teammate and former housemate.

"To come off 95 like he did in Perth, I thought he played absolutely beautifully, and then to get his first hundred for Australia – unfortunately it wasn’t an ODI – against India, I think that’s just flowed on, and he’s playing smart cricket, which can’t always be said for his game at times.

"I think that he would say that, there’s times when he makes some poor choices, but over the last little while he’s made some great choices.

"He's given himself a chance to get into an innings, and even though he’s only coming in with a handful of overs to go, the damage that he can do is unbelievable, and when you’ve got a guy who can field as well as he can and is handy with the ball, it’s a pretty special package to have."

Stand-in captain George Bailey also put his hand up for continued selection with a vital half-century.

Bailey admitted on Friday that he would be the man most likely to make way when Clarke returns from injury next week, but his innings against England provided a reminder of his ability and muddied the waters even further.

"George played beautifully," Finch said.

"Coming in at 3-70 off the back of three pretty quick wickets, it wasn’t easy.

"They had their tails up and for him to battle through a period pretty early where they bowled excellently at him, that was a credit to him and showed what a class player he actually is, which I don’t think he gets a lot of credit for at times.”

Australia’s next match is against Bangladesh in Brisbane on February 21, and the selection puzzle will become slightly clearer when one player makes way for the return of Clarke.