BGT: Katich calls for Marsh to make way for Webster in Boxing day test

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): – Simon Katich former Australia batter has called for Mitchell Marsh to make way for uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster in the Australian playing eleven for the Boxing Day Test against India which begins on Thursday in Melbourne. Marsh has struggled in the ongoing series against India picking up just three wickets from his 23 overs so far. He was also not asked to bowl in Australia’s second innings in both Adelaide and Brisbane. Katich noted Marsh’s inability to bowl consistently and take some pressure off the main Australian bowlers. “I’ve been saying for a couple of Tests Mitch Marsh has not been able to bowl the volume of overs that everyone expected of him. Given the conditions and given he is a wicket-taker” Katich said. He also observed that Marsh had performed well on day one in Perth but later struggled to back up. He highlighted that for Marsh to bowl only two overs after Josh Hazlewood’s injury indicates that something might not be quite right with his fitness.

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series tied at 1-1 Katich feels that Australia should turn to Beau Webster for the remaining two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. “At the end of the day, Beau Webster deserves to be in that squad. He’s done very well for Tassie in the last few years and he’s a genuine all-rounder playing that dual role with bat and ball ” Katich remarked. Katich also expressed concerns about the decision to drop opener Nathan McSweeney who scored 72 runs in the first three Tests. He viewed the move as harsh noting that many top-order batters have struggled against India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. “There are a number of batsmen from both teams who have struggled against the moving ball in tricky conditions,” Katich explained, arguing that McSweeney should not be penalized for his quiet start to the series. Katich added that in the last Test match at the Gabba the Australian top order helped relieve pressure on middle-order players Steve Smith and Travis Head allowing them to perform well against Bumrah. Katich did acknowledge the selection of young Konstas who was in the squad before the start of the summer but reiterated that McSweeney should not have been the one to pay the price for others’ struggles.