Marsh silences critics with super century

Shaun Marsh has vindicated the selectors' faith with a defiant century on day two of the second Magellan Ashes Test in Adelaide.

Marsh posted his fifth Test century in the middle session to power Australia into a commanding score of 8-442 declared after the hosts were sent in to bat. 

He reached his maiden Ashes century in 214 balls and hit 12 boundaries, the pick of the bunch an exquisite cover drive from the bowling of England spearhead James Anderson.

Having entered at 4-161 with the match on a knife’s edge, Marsh teamed up with Peter Handscomb late on day one to add 48 to the scoreboard and bat through to stumps.

He only added 29 in the first session on Sunday but played his role as Aussie anchor to perfection to put on 85 with Tim Paine and then a further unbroken 108 with No.9 Pat Cummins.

Luck went his way on 29 and 62 when the DRS saved him from being trapped lbw to Anderson, and besides the odd play and miss, Marsh looked immovable.

At 34 years old and having had seven stints in the Baggy Green, Marsh’s selection at No.6 for the first two Tests raised eyebrows among pundits and fans right across Australia.

After he was overlooked for the two-Test tour of Bangladesh earlier this year and with a lengthy history of injury behind him, it appeared the elegant left-hander’s card had been marked at international level.

But his irresistible form on the domestic circuit, which included a pivotal 91 for Western Australia against a Test strength Blues attack in the JLT Sheffield Shield, secured his spot for the first Test at the Gabba.

In Brisbane, with Australia in strife at 4-76, Marsh proved why so many of his state peers and Test teammates describe him as "unflappable".

He compiled 51 and put on 99 with skipper Steve Smith to guide Australia towards a match-winning first-innings total.

Marsh is the first Australian to score an Ashes hundred at No.6 since Marcus North's 110 at Leeds in 2009.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

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

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 Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

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

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