Ashes 2017-18: Shaun Marsh Wins Number Six Spot after Youngsters Failed to Impress Selectors

As Cricket Australia’s (CA) nation selectors’ chief Trevor Hohns briefed media about the much-awaited Ashes 2017-18- squad; the 34-year-old Shaun Marsh won the race for number six vacant spot after his juniors failed to impress the selectors in the ongoing JLT Sheffield Shield competition.

“We just feel that Shaun Marsh … has performed much, much better and demanded to be chosen,” Hohns told reporters in Brisbane and was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.

Hohns read out the 13-member squad which further saw Australian skipper Steven Smith talking about Marsh, who was playing for state-side Western Australia under his younger brother Mitchell Marsh.

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The 63-year-old Hohns, who was the former Australian cricketer, further, justified the inclusion of Marsh, who played a significant role for Western Australia in lifting the JLT One-day Cup in October, this year.

“There were a lot of underperformers as well. We really didn’t’ have anybody jumping out at us to demand selection, except for Cameron Bancroft who put a case forward that was irresistible,” Hohns maintained.

It’s pertinent to mention that, Hohns made it clear while hinting the average performances haven’t been considered, as lack of competition from the young bunch of players forced the selectors of Australia – to rely on the senior campaigner which subsequently includes Tim Paine as a gloveman.

“It took us quite a while because there were several contenders for various positions as everybody knows,” Hohns added.

(Read Further: Ashes 2017/18: Matthew Wade Uncertain About Test Future after Tim Paine’s Surprise Recall)

On the other side, the certain quarters have had taken a dig at selectors while stating the selectors should have opted for the promising youngsters in the series Down Under.

Interestingly, the left-handed batsman was fighting for the spot alongside unimpressive Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright, as Marcus Stoinis was also the contender before Gabba Test which is scheduled on November 23.

Maxwell scored 200 in the first three rounds as Cartwright posted 152 in the first three rounds.

“Both those fellas were spoken about and we came up with the fact that they haven’t performed well enough in the early rounds of the competition this year,” Hohns asserted.

The Magellan Ashes proved to bring some luck for the Narrogin-born experienced batsman Marsh, who already represented Australia in 23 Tests.

Having his role as a top-order batsman Marsh averaged 36 in 42 Test innings. He smashed four hundreds and seven fifties.

“(The selection panel had) suggested that they were going to be crucial (Shield) rounds for everybody,” Hohns further added.

The number six spot allowed the contenders to feature in at least three rounds of the four-day competition. Marsh scored 236 runs in six innings.

In six JLT One-day Cup innings, Marsh amassed 412 runs at the staggering average of 82.40, as Western Australia head coach Justin Langer has already thrown support behind former who recently admitted the fact by saying he had to pile up runs to impress the selectors.

“I thought he played very well. He’s been opening the batting so No.6 is a spot where you can potentially face the second new ball so he’s been doing that,” Smith said of Marsh.

Concluding, Honhs age barrier is of no concern until and unless profession keeps performing for the national side while revealing it was indeed a tough job to pick the players.