Arthur, now coaching WA, said Marsh was the equal of gun South African AB de Villiers, ranked fifth in the ICC Test batting rankings, for natural flair and pure ball-striking ability.
''Shaun Marsh is the most talented batsman I have coached and that goes with all our players at South African level,'' Arthur said.
''[Jacques] Kallis and guys like that, they're machines, but in terms of natural flair as a young batter, AB de Villiers and Shaun Marsh are the two best I've seen. It's a big rap and I mean it. He's a phenomenal player.
''He's the cleanest hitter of the ball I've seen. He should be playing Test cricket, there's no doubt in my mind.''
An overall first-class average of less than 39 does not present a resounding case for higher honours but Marsh has this summer crunched 339 runs at a princely 84.75. He also has recent form as an opener, compiling scores of 137 and 89 against South Australia in Adelaide, and was selected in the Australia A side to face England in Hobart last month before pulling out due to injury. He hit 86 and 27 last week in WA's loss against the Blues.
''He's ready now to play Test cricket because his average at first-class level in the past was mediocre but he's turning in some big scores for us at the moment,'' Arthur said.
Arthur also supported Shane Warne's view that left-arm spinner Michael Beer, who has 16 wickets at just under 40 from five matches, should replace Xavier Doherty for the Perth Test.
''I think he is a really, really good bowler,'' Arthur said. ''He is going to become a very, very good bowler in the not too distant future.
No comments:
Post a Comment