Baggy Green bat-off: Round three

The Australian men's cricket team returned to action Sunday with the first ODI against South Africa, but there's still a month until the first Test against Virat Kohli's India.

That leaves plenty of time for Baggy Green hopefuls to press their case in the JLT Sheffield Shield cricket following coach Justin Langer's declaration it is open season on batting spots in the Test team.

Who fired?

Mitchell Marsh began the day on 64 and proved immovable until the final session. The WA allrounder had been left out of the ODI squad and instructed to make big runs in the JLT Sheffield Shield ahead of the Tests against India. So that's exactly what he did. On a lifeless Allan Border Field pitch, the imposing right-hander drove and pulled with textbook style, but it was his defence that will likely have most pleased Australia's selectors, including national coach Justin Langer. Marsh hammered two hundreds in the Ashes last summer and another two in the lead-up to the Pakistan Tests in the UAE, and on this form, it isn't difficult to see how. His 151 from 301 deliveries was first-class hundred No.10 for the 27-year-old, carved out in the oppressive Queensland heat against a bowling attack that never wilted.

Who misfired?

Callum Ferguson's comeback from a calf strain wasn't meant to go like this. The classy Redbacks veteran made a second-innings 17 to go with his three in the first, knocked over by Vics quick James Pattinson, who himself was making a return to action. Pattinson then claimed the wicket of another eyeing higher honours after a couple of tons to start the Shield season – Tom Cooper. Off the back of his 178 last week and 118 in the first innings, there had been a few quiet intimations that the former Dutch international should be considered for Baggy Green, so today's seven-ball duck was untimely. Late in the day, Vics opener Marcus Harris was tasked with surviving until day's end after the Redbacks were bowled out late, only to fall for seven in awkward fashion, failing to offer a shot against Joe Mennie and being trapped on the front pad. An unbeaten half-century would've looked nice next to his name, particularly following on from 65 in the first innings and his epic 250no last match. It was a similar story for yesterday's hero Pete Handscomb, who was a classic example of the fickleness of cricket when, after boosting his Test prospects with a fine 123 on day two, was out from the first ball he faced this morning. To make matters worse, he returned to the middle at the fall of Harris, only to depart six balls later for two. 

The honourable mentions

Blues pair Daniel Hughes and Kurtis Patterson will be desperate to push on from what have been some strong starts already this season – as much as for the team's position in the match as for their own representative ambitions. Between them, they've now posted five half-centuries (Hughes two, Patterson three) so far this Shield campaign but neither batsman has kicked on to three figures. Today, Hughes reached 78 and Patterson 56 before both were undone by the Tasmania quicks. Hughes' conversion rate (50s to 100s) in first-class cricket now reads 12 fifties and three hundreds, while Patterson's is 26 fifties and five hundreds.

The bolters

Did someone say 'generation next'? It was well and truly on display late on day one in Sydney, as teenage pair Jason Sangha (70no) and Jack Edwards (50no) each produced their maiden Shield half-centuries. In the process, they each took another formative step towards justifying the lofty tags that have been placed on them. While it's a stretch to put them in Test contention yet, it was refreshing to see such positive signs via a glimpse into - potentially - Australia's future.

India Tour of Australia 2018-19

Gillette T20s v India

November 21: The Gabba

November 23: MCG

November 25: SCG

Domain Tests v India

December 6-10: Adelaide Oval

December 14-18: Perth Stadium

December 26-30: MCG

January 3-7: SCG

Gillette ODI Series v India

January 12: SCG (D/N)

January 15: Adelaide Oval (D/N)

January 18: MCG (D/N)