Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh may miss cricket for 9 months

Mitch Marsh’s shoulder injury is worse than what was feared initially, and he will need a full reconstruction to play again. As the WA all-rounder returned home amidst a storm of social media criticism over his selection in Tests last week, it is unlikely that he will play again this year.

That would rule him out of the Ashes series, with the first Test scheduled to begin on November 23 at the Gabba. Marsh will be doctored by a specialist in Melbourne this week after an initial diagnosis has indicated that he would be out of action for up to nine months.

“Mitchell has been playing with a shoulder injury for most of the summer,” Australian physiotherapist David Beakley said.

“We have been managing (it) up until now but unfortunately it has progressively deteriorated to a point where he is unable to function at the level required.”

A full reconstruction is important if Marsh wants to bowl in the 140km/h range that has made him a classy Australian player over the past two years. Marsh has played 21 Tests since his debut in late 2014 but also has been criticised for his return of 674 runs at 21.74 and 29 wickets at 37.48.

The 25-year-old seems to have replaced Shane Watson as Kangaroos’ favourite Test boy, though few of the criticism is warranted since his return of 19.71 at No.6 is the lowest of in that position in Test history.

Last November, Australian coach Darren Lehmann made it clear that the national selectors were keen to retain Marsh in the side. “We would like him to bat for longer periods in Test matches … but when you’re a multi-format player you don’t get too many opportunities (to play State cricket),” Lehmann said.

Former WA batsman Marcus Stoinis will act as Mitchell Marsh’s replacement in the ongoing India tour.