All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been called into the squad for the Perth Test, raising further doubts over Peter Handscomb's position in the Australian XI.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Marsh has been included at the expense of South Australian swing bowler Chadd Sayers, giving selectors the option to pick a fourth seamer to support their star pace attack for the third Test.
Victoria's Glenn Maxwell can consider himself unlucky to be overlooked after starring in the Shield but does not provide selectors with an extra bowling option.
If picked, Marsh will have the chance to prove his legion of critics wrong, as his brother has in the first two Tests.
Should he play, he will almost certainly take the place of Peter Handscomb, who is in the midst of a lean run.
Handscomb is averaging 47 at Test level but has passed 50 only once in his last nine innings since his game-saving 72 not out against India in Ranchi in March. The Victorian has also struggled at state level with only one half-century from six knocks in the Shield before the Tests.
One of the most maligned players in the country, Marsh has not worn the baggy green since hurting his shoulder in the second Test against India in March.
He resumed bowling in the last fortnight but has shown in his 21 Tests his seamers are worthy of to play as a fourth quick.
But there are doubts whether his technique is sound enough to bat in the top six. The 26-year-old averages 22 with two half-centuries from 35 innings but, encouragingly, is averaging nearly 45 in the Shield this season with one century from five games batting in the top order for Western Australia.
Marsh's hopes of selection depend largely on how Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins pull up from the second Test.
The eight-day gap will aid the pace trio's recovery but in Marsh's favour is the fact the WACA pitch has yielded plenty of runs this season.
Captain Steve Smith said the welfare of his pace men was a consideration in his decision not to enforce the follow-on in Adelaide.
"I think these bowlers that we've got are very valuable and just giving those guys a bit of a rest, it always makes me confident that they can come back day-in, day-out and do the business that they need to do," Smith said after Australia's Test victory.
"So give them a rest, and keep the England bowlers bowling.
"They bowled 150 overs in the first innings and part of an Ashes series that's long is if you can tire their bowlers early in the summer then it can make a big difference, so that was also part of it."
