Light shines on Marsh's Ashes bid
Test batsman Shaun Marsh will be looking to nail down an Ashes spot by scoring heavily in the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland starting today at Allan Border Field.
Marsh replaced injured Michael Clarke for three matches in the home series against India, but with the skipper expected to make this year's trip to England, he will need to put his name ahead of the other contenders.
He made 254 runs at 42.3 in his six innings against India but has been overshadowed since returning to shield ranks by teammates Adam Voges and Michael Klinger as the Warriors surged to the top of the table.
The 31-year-old Marsh has averaged 35.57 in 12 Tests.
Marsh's highest score is 56 in his past three shield matches, although he has two not outs in his five innings.
Voges, on the other hand, is in remarkable form and needs 172 runs in a possible six innings to replace Test opener Chris Rogers as the most prolific WA batsman in any season.
Klinger has 487 runs at 97.4 in the past three matches.
One of Marsh's main challengers for an Ashes batting berth - Joe Burns - will be on the opposing side. Former international Ben Cutting answered an SOS yesterday, making the dash from Queensland's second XI clash with Victoria in Melbourne to replace paceman Luke Feldman (groin).
The fourth-placed Bulls must win their remaining two games outright to make the final.
Cutting comes into a Bulls squad that features 21-year-old all-rounder Jack Wildermuth, who is in line to become the ninth Queenslander to make his shield debut this season.
He replaces Simon Milenko (broken thumb).
·An Ashes spot is within his grasp, but Peter Nevill is more intent on helping NSW claim back-to-back shield titles.
Precariously placed in third position entering the penultimate round, NSW host Tasmania in a must-win clash at Bankstown Oval starting today.
Wicket-keeper/batsman Nevill is NSW's leading scorer this season, with 677 runs at 84.62.
He made 235 not out against Tasmania when NSW crushed the Tigers last month in Hobart.
·Left-handed batsman Jake Lehmann, the 22-year-old son of Australian coach Darren Lehmann, has been named in South Australia's squad to play Victoria in Adelaide, starting today.
SQUADS - WA: * Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Michael Klinger, Adam Voges (capt), Shaun Marsh, Sam Whiteman, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Rimmington, David Moody, Michael Hogan, Andrew Tye.
QLD: *Joe Burns, Charlie Hemphrey, Peter Forrest, Chris Lynn, Michael Phillipson, Chris Hartley, Jack Wildermuth, James Hopes (capt), Cameron Boyce, Ben Cutting, Peter George, Mark Steketee.
DID YOU KNOW? 35.57 Batsman Shaun Marsh's average in his 12 Tests matches for Australia
AAP
