Western Australia coach Adam Voges has confirmed that star allrounder Mitch Marsh will return to Sheffield Shield cricket this week, sparking a major selection debate about a potential promotion to the top of the order.
Marsh's Return and the Opening Conundrum
The 34-year-old Marsh has not played a red-ball match since being dropped after last summer's Boxing Day Test against India. However, his blistering form in limited-overs cricket, characterised by an aggressive brand of batting, has reignited discussions about his Test future, specifically as a potential opener for the upcoming Ashes series in Perth.
Voges confirmed he is actively weighing up the option of breaking up WA's long-standing and successful opening partnership of Cameron Bancroft and skipper Sam Whiteman to accommodate Marsh. "I think the ongoing discussions from our side of things is where does he fit," Voges stated. "We've got some ideas, but we'll just thrash them out."
Ashes Speculation Intensifies
The national conversation around Test openers gained significant momentum during the recent match at Optus Stadium, where Usman Khawaja was forced out of both innings due to back spasms. His replacement, Travis Head, smashed a spectacular century in a single session to win the Test, playing the same aggressive, modern style that has become Marsh's trademark.
This has directly influenced the thinking at the state level. Voges sees Marsh's return as a chance to further his case for national selection. "I'd love to see him score a hundred for WA this week and really push that (Test) case," Voges said, adding that there have been no restrictions or advice from Cricket Australia on how to manage the allrounder.
Make-or-Break Melbourne Trip for WA
This week's trip to Melbourne is critical for Western Australia's domestic season. The team needs victories in both the One-Day Cup and Sheffield Shield matches against Victoria to keep their finals hopes alive.
In the One-Day Cup, only Victoria sits below WA on the ladder. However, the roles are reversed in the Sheffield Shield, where Victoria sits firmly on top with just one loss from their five matches.
The WA squad will be significantly bolstered for the white-ball clash. Alongside Marsh, Cooper Connolly, Ashton Turner, Joel Paris, and Brody Couch have all returned to the lineup. Their captain, Ashton Turner's return was singled out by Voges as "really important."
Bryce Jackson and Matt Kelly will miss the match due to injuries, while Cameron Bancroft, Sam Fanning, and Corey Rocchiccioli have been omitted from the One-Day squad.
Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Voges said, "I think we understand the importance of this week and its context in the season. So, really looking forward to getting to Melbourne and hopefully the weather is okay for us."
