By CricketCountry Staff
Shaun Marsh may have become 19th Australian cricketer to score a century on debut but the former Australian all-rounder; Tom Moody feels that the century in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka does not augur well for the left hander to secure a place in the team for the third Test.
Published: Sep 14, 2011, 04:43 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 14, 2011, 04:43 PM (IST)
Shaun Marsh’s (in the picture) mentor, Tom Moody believes the left-handed batsman can be groomed into a good No 3 batsman once Ricky Ponting retires from international cricket © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Colombo: Sep 14, 2011
Shaun Marsh may have become 19th Australian cricketer to score a century on debut but the former Australian all-rounder; Tom Moody feels that the century in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka does not augur well for the left hander to secure a place in the team for the third Test.
Moody believes former captain Ricky Ponting’s return to the national side in the third Test will be a natural selection while the selectors might retain Usman Khawaja at No. 6 position.
Moody was quoted in Sydney Morning Herald as saying, “He’s obviously put his hand up and batted very well when he’s been given an opportunity, but Ricky is going to come straight back at No. 3.
”It’s whether they see that they’ve given enough opportunity to both Khawaja and Hughes, at the top of the order. Shaun, I suppose, has the benefit that he can bat anywhere really from one to six. He may just have to be patient, I’d say.
”I think that’s one of the considerations for sure,” Moody said. ”I don’t think [Marsh] will feel he’s a guarantee for the next Test. You have to give players who have been given an opportunity in front of you a fair crack, and whether the selectors feel Khawaja and Hughes have had that opportunity, only time will tell.”
Moody believes Marsh can be groomed into a good No 3 player once Ponting retires from international cricket. He said, ”I think Shaun can develop into a good No. 3, there’s no question, but there’s a pretty good one there who’s available for the next match. I think Shaun is capable of batting at the top of the order but he has to mark his time, whether it’s being patient on the sidelines or somewhere in the middle order until that position frees up.”
The former Sri Lankan coach believes that Marsh always had the talent but lacked direction.
”Shaun was a bit like a cork in the ocean. He had no direction. He’s always been a player, who has had a huge amount of talent, but talent is one thing, converting it into some consistent performance is what we all strive to do. Shaun just needed that firm direction,” said Moody.
