Marsh brothers emulate Waughs

Mitch and Shaun Marsh hammered another nail into England’s coffin with their first Test century partnership in the final session on day three in Sydney.

The Marsh brothers came together at the fall of Usman Khawaja for 171 four overs after tea with the score at 4-375 and walked off at stumps having added 104 from 158 deliveries. 

It’s the first time an Australian pair of brothers have put on a century stand since Steve and Mark Waugh combined for 197 in the fifth Test at The Oval in 2001. 

In that match both Waugh twins made centuries – Steve a gutsy 157 and Mark a typically fluent 120 – and the Marsh brothers will be hoping to emulate the legendary siblings’ feats at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

Younger brother Mitch did the bulk of the scoring in the evening session in adding 63 but Shaun had a second Magellan Ashes century in his sights and finished the day safely at the non-striker’s end on 98.

The fifth-wicket stand heaped more pain on England, who have now spent 157 overs in the field and are staring down the barrel of a huge deficit that currently sits at 133 with plenty of Australian batting to come. 

It was an ideal outcome for both Marsh brothers who did exactly what they were picked to do.

Shaun, with his unflappable nature, held the innings together like he has done so often this summer, batting time, continually rotating the strike and banishing the bad ball to the boundary.

Mitch, with his expansive game and clean-striking, got set before upping the ante to rattle off nine fours and two sixes, both maximums from the bowling of Moeen Ali in the space of three balls. 

Mitch’s strike rate of 72.41 is far and away higher than his teammates this innings and is only bettered in the match by Mark Stoneman’s run-a-ball 24 in the first innings and Stuart Broad’s swashbuckling 31 from 32 balls (SR 96.88).

There were a few scares for Mitch, the first before he had troubled the scorers. The right-hander was given not out to a ball from leg-spinner Mason Crane that spun so sharply it ended in the hands of first slipper Joe Root. 

England thought there must have been an edge from the bat of the Western Australian and referred the decision to the third umpire, who found no evidence of wood and upheld the on-field call of not out.

On 55, Mitch was given out lbw to speedster Tom Curran, but after quick consultation with his brother, the batsman reviewed. 

The third umpire this time did detect bat and overturned the decision, much to the chagrin of the tourists desperate for a breakthrough. 

Now all is left is for both brothers to reach triple figures and lift Australia to a match-winning lead to finish off the series on a high and a four-nil series result.

Khawaja shared a 101-run partnership with Shaun and was elated to see the Marsh brothers have success together.

“It’s great,” Khawaja told reporters after play. 

“From a team aspect and from a mate and teammate’s aspect, both Marshes have copped a lot of slack over the last couple years, Shaun even probably longer. 

“But to see him go out there and play really well and to see them play the way we know both of them can play is really rewarding to see.

“It couldn’t happen to better blokes, the whole family is really nice.”

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test Match drawn. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Scorecard

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21