Allan Border urges Australia to have Shaun Marsh in the lineup instead of third seamer

Former Australian captain Allan Border believes batsman Shaun Marsh would boost the batting order in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle which is scheduled to start from Thursday. The Australians lost the first Test by 106 runs as the famed batting line up consisting of stalwarts like David Warner and Steve Smith failed to deliver.

“We’re not going to win games in the subcontinent when we score 360 runs across two innings,” Border was quoted by foxsports.com.au. “We’ve got to do a better job with the bat and if that means more specialist batting in the line-up and backing our four bowlers to get our wickets then so be it. It’s not our usual method but we’ve got to find a better method for these pitches.

“Do we need both Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc or even Mitchell Marsh? If he’s the best No.6, fair enough but if he’s not, maybe you’ve got to pick another batsman.”

In the previous Test, the Aussies bowled out Sri Lanka for a paltry 117 on the first day. But their batsmen could not deal with the spin and bounce of the wicket and only managed to grab a lead of 86 runs. The hosts capitalized on it and bounced back to set a target of 268 but it proved to be too much for Steven Smith’s side who were bundled out for 161 just before tea on day five.

Australia were brilliant with the leather in the first innings but had to struggle in the second as spinner Steve O’Keefe got injured. But Border says the side will not miss the third pacer much.

“We went in with three quicks (Starc, Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh) and Mitchell Marsh barely bowled,” he said.“Is that how Australia is best served? We’ve got to ask if Shaun Marsh is a better player than Mitchell Marsh or Josh Hazlewood for this XI in these conditions?”

The 61-year-old has also asked captain Smith and Adam Voges to bowl more often in the second Test. Smith only bowled an over of leg-spin and Voges rolled his arm over for only an over and a half despite O’ Keefe being sidelined.“We’ve got to get more overs out of Voges and Smith, because even though their part-timers they land them pretty well on pitches that turn a bit,” he said. “They were totally underused in that last game.

“In Australia where the wickets are pretty flat, it might be a waste of time bowling those two but on a pitch that’s offering a bit of turn even I become a good bowler.”