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Rod Marsh says middle-order collapse reason for Ashes 2015 loss

The fifth and final Test at Oval will take place on August 20.

The fifth and final Test at Oval will take place on August 20 © Getty Images
The fifth and final Test at Oval will take place on August 20 © Getty Images

Australia’s chairman of selectors Rod Marsh defended his Ashes squad that lost the previous two matches inside three days saying that, “Our blokes scored more runs than their (England’s) top-order, but our middle-order scored no runs and that was the big differential – we just didn’t score any runs in the middle. “ The 67-year old selector also has asked his batsmen to be “more selfish” so that they bat longer and get the required number of runs. The fifth and final Test at Oval will take place on August 20. READ: Michael Clarke deserves to go out with respect: Darren Lehmann

According to a report from Cricket Australia, he said, “If you have a look at our first innings batting it’s been deplorable, it’s all you can say. “How the hell do you (foresee) that, how do you see some of the best batsmen in the world make no runs in the first innings of four Test matches basically.

“They’ve got to say ‘righto, no-one’s getting me out and I don’t care if it takes me all day to make a hundred. You’re allowed to bat all day, and I think our longest partnership in that (Trent Bridge) game was something like 18 overs. That’s appalling in a Test match; I don’t care what (sort of pitch) you’re playing on.” READ: After Darren Lehman, Rod Marsh takes blame for Ashes 2015 loss

He even said that although choosing the squad for the fourth Test was the toughest ever job for him, he would have any way selected the same boys that surrendered the Ashes in the Trent Bridge match. The Day-One of that match was a forgetful day for the entire Aussie crew after the side got bundled up for a poor total of 60 and eventually lost the game by an innings.

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