Mitch Marsh fails to bowl leading into Adelaide Test

Allrounder Mitch Marsh has failed to bowl in the lead-up to the second Test against India as Australia prepare to go into the crucial match with only four bowling options.

Despite Nathan Lyon’s insistence that Marsh would bowl on Wednesday night, the reigning Allan Border medallist only batted during Australia’s main training session at the Adelaide Oval.

After his first stint batting, Marsh sat down on an esky for about 20 minutes before going inside.

Marsh then came back out 40 minutes to have another bat before the end of Australia’s session.

The 33-year-old has been under an injury cloud since sending down more overs than Australia were expecting in Perth when India piled on second-innings runs.

Marsh hasn’t bowled at all since the end of Australia’s 295-run first Test smashing at Optus Stadium.

Despite calling up in-form Tasmania allrounder Beau Webster to the squad, Australia are leaning towards playing Marsh as a batter-only.

Marsh bowled 17 overs at Optus Stadium, marking his heaviest workload in any Test since 2019.

The 33-year-old’s pace noticeably dropped during India’s second innings, with Australia turning to Marnus Labuschagne to bowl crucial overs when Marsh was unable.

The decision to use Labuschagne in Perth, first with his medium pace, then leg-spin, came under criticism.

But the No.3 batter could be set to bowl more overs in Adelaide after spending long periods bowling in the Adelaide Oval nets this week.

Lyon insists Australia have the firepower in their attack, featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and the recalled Scott Boland, to not need a genuine fifth bowling option.

Josh Hazlewood, who appears to be recovering from a side strain better than hoped, will miss the Test and be replaced by Boland.

Cummins will address the bowling situation later on Thursday when he fronts his pre-Test press conference.