'Should consider a fifth bowling option': Mark Taylor's push for shake-up to Aussie batting order amid Mitch Marsh concerns
Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor believes there's merit for five bowling options to be picked for the Boxing Day Test with selectors naming a squad of 15 on Friday.
Sam Konstas and Jhye Richardson were the two new additions to the squad while Beau Webster and Sean Abbott returned. Nathan McSweeney was left out.
Mitch Marsh has bowled just 23 overs in the Test series and was under an injury cloud coming into the second Test at Adelaide.
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The all-rounder only bowled two overs during India's first innings at Brisbane when Josh Hazlewood went down with injury. He's also scored only 69 runs across five innings.
Josh Hazlewood bowled only one over before coming off the field in the third Test. Fox Sports
Australia will now have to consider how they manage their bowlers workloads with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins set to play their fourth match in a row.
Speaking after the Brisbane Test, Cummins flagged there'll be a need for more overs out of Marsh on Boxing Day but Taylor wants to see some consideration given to Webster.
"I think Australia should consider a fifth bowling option," he told 9news.
"Alex Carey in my opinion could move up from seven to six and someone like a Beau Webster could come in at seven."
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Alex Carey of Australia bats during day five of the Third Test match in the series between Australia and India at The Gabba on December 18, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) Getty
As for McSweeney, Taylor predicts there'll be more to come from the 25-year-old whose baptism of fire came against one of the best bowlers in the world, Jasprit Bumrah.
"It's not the end of the world," he said.
"He's played three Test matches now. He's been debuted, he knows what it's like, he knows where he needs to improve his game."
