3 minute read
Mitch Marsh has barely bowled this year due to a series of niggling injuries, but he's set to be unleashed in the series-opening Test against India in Perth.
Mitch Marsh has been given the green light to bowl during the Border-Gavaskar series opener against India, but Marnus Labuschagne is lurking hungrily in the background.
Marsh's bowling availability has been a big talking point in the lead-up to the five-Test series against India.
With Cam Green ruled out for the series and Australia not wanting to wear out star pace trio Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Marsh's cameos with the ball could prove vital.
Marsh has bowled only sparingly this year as he battled a series of niggles, including a hamstring injury that ended his IPL campaign early.
The 33-year-old played as a batter only in his two recent Sheffield Shield hit-outs, with his most recent bowling display coming on September 27 in an ODI against England.
Marsh pulled up sore from that hit-out and hasn't bowled competitively since, but he looked solid in the nets while training with the Test side this week.
Test skipper Pat Cummins said there wouldn't be any limits on how much Marsh can bowl during the series opener against India, starting in Perth on Friday.
"He'll definitely bowl this Test - well, he's definitely available to bowl," Cummins said.
"He's an allrounder. With the way us four bowlers are set out, we never really budget an allrounder bowling heaps.
"So I would imagine (Marsh bowls) a few spells each innings or something like that.
"But he's ready to go. He's been bowling really well this week. His body's great, the best it's been for a while.
"He's ready to go and happy to bowl as much as we need."
If Marsh is unable to carry a significant load with the ball, Labuschagne is expected to step in and fill the breach.
Labuschagne is a batter by trade who can bowl some handy leg-spin.
But he has put a big focus on improving his pace bowling this year in the hope of getting thrown the ball against India.
Labuschagne has bowled 33.2 overs across two Shield hit-outs this season and snared the impressive figures of 2-5 from 6.2 overs against WA at the WACA Ground.
"He's always trying to impress with the ball, which is great," Cummins said.
"He loves bowling.
"He's bowled some handy overs for Queensland. Obviously, he's got leg spin, bowled a bit of off spin in the past, and then this year it's been onto pace bowling.
"So yeah, I'm sure he'll get the ball at some stage. And he's been bowling quite a few bouncers as well. So that's maybe something we'll turn to at some point."