Australia vs India: Mitchell Marsh likely to be included for the Boxing Day Test

The Test series between Australia and India is interestingly poised as both the teams have won a game each. The first couple of matches have been hard fought between the two sides and the Boxing Day Test will be the eventual series clincher it seems. Meanwhile, Australia look set to change the winning combination with the middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb likely to be axed after a poor show in Adelaide and Perth.

He has managed to muster only 68 runs in four outings at a mediocre average of 17 so far and his technique doesn’t look convinced for Test cricket. If he is dropped, this will be the second consecutive instance of Handscomb being left out of Australian Summer after just two Test matches.

Marsh to be included

According to the reports in ABC News, the pace-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is likely to be included in the line-up for the third Test. More than Handscomb’s failures, Marsh’s inclusion is to rest the fast bowlers it seems who have toiled tirelessly in the first two matches. Both the bowling attacks have picked 40 wickets so far in the extreme heat of Adelaide and Perth.

Marsh will allow the pace trio of Australia to rest while he himself is a wicket-taker and is known for his aggressive batting in the middle-order. It will be interesting to see where he bats as Handscomb was batting at number five while Marsh is used to coming out at six.

Mitchell has played 30 Test matches so far in his career amassing 1200 runs at an average of 26.1 with a couple of centuries and three half-centuries. He has also picked 35 wickets and would be expected to improve in the near future. With the Ashes also set to be played next year, Marsh will be keen on sealing his place in the side in the long-term with a consistent show.

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