Border-Gavaskar Trophy: After Steve Smith, doubts over Mitchell Marsh’s availability for Adelaide Test | Cricket News

Although he continues to push his case for selection, there are growing concerns over Mitchell Marsh’s availability for the Adelaide Test starting Friday.
According to Australian broadcaster SEN, Marsh has suffered a back problem which will all but rule him out of bowling in the second Test against India if he is picked in the playing 11. The Western Australian all-rounder had bowled 17 overs in the first Test in Perth as his team’s fourth seam bowling option.
The back injury triggered speculation about Marsh’s availability for the second Test. To add fuel to the fire, the inclusion of all-rounder Beau Webster to the squad heightened the speculation, as per Fox News.
Marsh’s fitness concerns come close on the heels of an injury scare to Steve Smith. The batsman was taking throwdowns from teammate Marnus Labuschagne during nets on Tuesday when he was hit on the right thumb. Smith winced in pain and was examined the team’s medical staff before he left the training session mid-way.
While there is no update yet on his condition, Australian selectors have chosen uncapped all-rounder Webster as a possible replacement for Marsh, who in an interview with Channel Nine stated ‘the body’s all good’.
If Marsh is unavailable, it could force another change in the line-up for the hosts. Injured pacer Josh Hazlewood has already been ruled out of the second Test, with one of Scott Boland or uncapped Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett likely to take his place.
Australia could be forced to hand Test debut to another player — either Webster or reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis — in place of Marsh, Fox reported.
The second Test between India and Australia begins on Friday. The former lead the series 1-0.