Aussies give batsman Peter Handscomb Marsh’s place in Test team
Adelaide — Australia vice-captain and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been dropped for the first Test against India as selectors backed the team’s three specialist seamers to bowl a full workload at Adelaide Oval. Marsh’s place in the side for the series opener, which starts on Thursday, has been taken by middle order batsman Peter Handscomb, recalled for the first time since the tour of SA in March and April. Despite scoring a century for Sheffield Shield side Western Australia in the lead-up, Marsh pays the price for a poor tour of the UAE, where he managed 30 runs from four innings with the bat against Pakistan and two wickets at the cost of almost 100 runs with the ball. “Mitch Marsh probably hasn’t been as consistent as he would like and we would like,” captain Tim Paine said at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, confirming that Handscomb would bat fifth in the order, with local favourite Travis Head at six. “We know he’s good enough to be a genuine all-rounder at Test level. “The quic...
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