Advertisement

Shaun Marsh not expecting dream Test recall

In-form batsman Shaun Marsh doesn’t expect a late call-up for Australia’s Test tour of South Africa despite his starring role in Friday night’s Big Bash League final.

Marsh cracked an unbeaten 63 off 43 balls to lift the Perth Scorchers to a 39-run win over the Hobart Hurricanes, with the result ending a 10-year title drought for West Australian cricket.

The breakthrough win was a bitter-sweet moment for Marsh, who would have been in South Africa preparing for Test duties had it not been for a calf injury suffered on January 26.

National selectors replaced Marsh with Phil Hughes for the Test tour, and the 30-year-old West Australian doesn’t think there’s any wiggle room for him to rejoin the squad.

“There’s a full squad over there now, so more than likely not,” Marsh said.

“But that’s just the way it goes. I had to make a decision in the best interests of the team, and at that stage I wasn’t fit and we didn’t know how long it would be.

“It was disappointing to miss out, but I guess this (T20 triumph) is a nice reward.

“It’s been a long 13 years for me in WA, and it means a lot.”

The Scorchers posted a formidable 4-191 before restricting Hobart to 7-152 in front of 20,783 fans at the WACA.

The match might be the last for veteran Simon Katich, who will take up his player development role with AFL club Greater Western Sydney later this month.

“If it is the last game, it’s a pretty special way to go out,” said Katich, who nursed a broken hand through the tournament.

Warriors and Scorchers coach Justin Langer was glad Katich returned to WA cricket after leaving the state for NSW in 2002.

“When he left, it was like a dagger to the heart,” Langer said.

“He was a future captain.

“If this is his last game, he’ll be missed. But it’s a Cinderella story for him to leave on this note.”

Scorchers spinner Brad Hogg, who was named man-of-the-match in the final after snaring 2-17 off four overs, is keen to play on for a few more years.

Langer is eager to have Hogg back next summer as long as the 43-year-old can find some other T20 gigs in the meantime.

WA cricket will now turn its attention to the Sheffield Shield, where the Warriors sit third on the table ahead of next week’s clash with Tasmania.

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.