It is an experienced group of players and they are relatively fresh, with much advance planning having been done in an attempt to overcome a grueling series of five games played in seven weeks.
All those overs were in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s in September. He then stopped in pain and missed the next match before playing as a specialist batsman for Western Australia in two Sheffield Shield matches in October.
Marsh had publicly declared before the second Shield match, against Tasmania, that he would bowl again, but his body was not quite ready. His role with the ball has become important for Australia with Cameron Green missing the entire series due to a stress fracture in his back.
Marsh became a father a day earlier and his wife Greta gave birth to their first child. On Monday he overcame fatigue and increased his bowling load in a long middle-wicket session as Australia began its first preparations for the Test. There were no signs of discomfort as Marsh progressed through the zone and he also impressed during Australia’s training session on Wednesday.
“He will definitely play this Test. He is an all-rounder and with the way the four players set out, we never budgeted for a lot of all-round bowling,” Cummins said.
However, it’s unlikely Marsh will be able to cover Green’s workload. He was used sparingly during last summer’s seven Tests, where he never bowled more than nine overs in an innings.
Marsh, 33, will be used for a couple of short spells, possibly relatively early in the innings given his ability to produce top swing and also around the 60-70 mark with the old ball.
“We never set an upper limit [on overs] “It’s not up to anyone,” Cummins said. “But he is ready and happy to bowl as much as we need.” I imagine a few spells in each entry. “He’s been playing very well this week, his body is in the best shape it’s been in a long time.”
After taking the reins of the Queensland captaincy, Labuschagne was used with the ball and took 2 for 5 in 6.2 overs in the season opener against Western Australia in the WACA. He then bowled 27 overs during the match against South Australia at Allan Border Field.
His bowling has been marked by short-ball aggression, which he has also displayed during Australia’s training sessions ahead of the first Test, providing a potential tactic Cummins can utilize.
“He’s always trying to impress the ball, which is great,” Cummins said. “He loves to bowl. He’s one of those lads, as we know, who always wants to be involved. He’s bowled some useful deliveries for Queensland. Obviously he’s got leg spin, a bit of spin in the past and then, this year, he went bowling.
“I’m sure he’ll get the ball at some point and throw to a few bouncers as well. So maybe that’s something we’ll turn to at some point, too.”
While there is intrigue over Australia’s back-up bowlers, a new-look Cummins and his frontline attack hope to shoulder the bulk of the workload. He will enter the series having not played red-ball cricket since March in New Zealand.
Cummins was intended to play a Shield match for New South Wales, but instead played a domestic 50-over match and two ODIs against Pakistan.
“I feel great. I couldn’t have asked for a better lead, so I hope it translates into a good summer,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky to have four or five months off to recover and get stronger. I feel as strong, fresh and fit as I have in a long time.”
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth.
