Mitchell Marsh likely to replace Shane Watson, says Steve Waugh
Tuesday 14 July 2015 15:39, UK
Australia could bring in Mitchell Marsh at the expense of all-rounder Shane Watson for the second Investec Ashes Test, says former captain Steve Waugh.
Watson failed to take a wicket in the first Test defeat in Cardiff and was dismissed lbw again – a career-long trend for the 34-year-old – prompting calls for selectors to drop him.
And Waugh, the last Australia captain to win an Ashes series in England, says Watson's international playing future is hanging in the balance.
"This is a big decision. My gut feeling is they'll probably go with Mitchell Marsh," Waugh told Sky Sports News HQ.
"That's a decision the selectors will definitely be talking about over the next two days. A guy at that age, when he's played a long time, when you make a decision like this now, it's pretty much final, there's probably no way back from being dropped now.
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"I think the frustrating thing about Shane is you always believe there's more there than he's producing because he looks good when he bats, he's fantastic at first slip, he does a job with the ball.
"But at the same time you've got someone like Mitchell Marsh who has got a lot of potential and is probably the future of Australian cricket."
Australia will have to lift their game to match England in the second Test at Lord's, according to Waugh, who admits Australia were "simply outplayed" by England in the first Test.
"England were sharp, they were very together as a side, they bowled as a unit, they caught exceptionally well and they played with some real purpose, whereas Australia seem a little flat, for whatever reason," he said.
"Australia love coming here (to Lord's), that's a fact, we've got a fantastic record here over the last 100 years. I don't think you can read too much in to previous form.
"Right now, this Test match is going to be an exciting match between two very evenly balanced teams, and I think Lord's will be a great spectacle for everyone to watch.
"I expect Australia to play well, they're primed, they're disappointed after what happened in the first Test, they know they let themselves down a little bit with the way they played.
"You'll see an Australia with a bit of a different attitude coming in to this second Test."
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