Marsh gets chance to step up to the plate in Ponting’s absence

Kandy, Sep.5 (ANI): Ricky Ponting’s absence from this week’s second Test in Kandy has a silver lining to it. It gives West Australian Shaun Marsh a chance to finally prove he is not simply a limited-overs specialist.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Marsh is set to make his Test debut at No.6 in the batting order, with Usman Khawaja moving up to No.3 to cover for Ponting, who has returned to Sydney for the birth of his second child after recording his 100th Test win in Galle. “It will have some impact losing someone who has won 100 Test matches ... but it gives Shaun Marsh an opportunity as well,” the paper quoted vice-captain Shane Watson, as saying.

Watson added: “He has been batting beautifully over the last six months.”