Calcutta: Justin Langer has thrown his support behind Shaun Marsh to fill the much-coveted No.6 spot in Australia's Test side for the upcoming series versus India.
Days before Langer takes up his coaching role for Australia's three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, Langer weighed into the debate about who would best fit the middle-order position for the much-anticipated four-Test series, which starts in Pune on February 23.
"It depends on which balance they go for, how Australia want to line up," the former Test opener was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
"If they go by the traditional XI, you'd pick Shaun because of his record in not only the subcontinent but for Australia as a whole. He deserves to play and should bat at No.6.
"Shaun deserves to play in the Test matches. Even before his injury, he deserved to play."
Marsh hasn't played the long-format game since the first Test against South Africa in November when he aggravated an existing finger injury. However, both he and brother Mitchell have been selected in the 16-man squad to tour India.
As West Australian coach, Langer has worked with both siblings for years and knows their games.
Off-spinning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has also put his hand up to fill the No.6 spot, a position in which Western Australian all-rounder Hilton Cartwright was trialled on Test debut at the SCG this January. Nic Maddinson and Callum Ferguson also had turns in the spot, but like Cartwright were not named in the squad.
"I'd certainly like to be the No. 6, in all countries," Maxwell had said earlier this month. "It'd be a great position for me to try and nail down and that's something I'm hoping to do, starting in India."
When naming the squad, interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns had highlighted the need for flexibility against the world's No. 1 Test side. "Shaun is proven in subcontinent conditions and is coming off a hundred in his last Test match in Sri Lanka," Hohns said.
"He is a very versatile batsman who can slot in at the top or the middle of the order."
Marsh, who has an average of 40.15 from 19 Tests in a career blighted by injury, has never toured India with the Test side but has scored two centuries in Sri Lanka, including his 130 in the third Test in Colombo last August.
It was only a few days back that former Australia captain Steve Waugh had backed Marsh to open in the first Test against India. Waugh said though Matt Renshaw had done little wrong since his Test debut this Australian summer, averaging 63 in four matches, Marsh's experience should not be overlooked.
