Shaun Marsh will bat at No. 3 slot © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Pallekele: Sep 6, 2011
Left-handed batsman Shaun Marsh is all set to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka in the second Test starting Thursday, playing at the No. 3 slot in the Australian batting line up in place of Ricky Ponting.
Cricket Australia wrote on Twitter, “One change for Australian XI in 2nd Test at Pallekelle starting Thursday. Shaun Marsh to debut at number 3 in place of Ricky Ponting.”
Ponting has rushed home for the birth of his second child, which opened the position of a specialist middle order batsman. Marsh, who has played international cricket mostly at the top order, became an ideal choice for the No. 3 slot ahead of Usman Khawaja.
The 28-year-old batsman has played 35 One-Day Internationals and scored 1, 244 runs at an average of 36. 58, including two hundreds and eight half-centuries.
Marsh has hit six centuries in 61 First Class games.
Australia team for second Test:
Shane Watson, Phil Hughes, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke (c), Mike Hussey, Usman Khawaja, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon.
