MELBOURNE: Australian top-order batsman Shaun Marsh is unlikely to fit for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, thus paving way for another opportunity for Nic Maddinson.
Marsh, who broke his finger during Australia's loss to South Africa in the first Test of the three-match series at the WACA last month, has not played since then and Cricket Australia's team performance chief, Pat Howard, said it was "highly unlikely" Marsh would be passed fit for the second game against Pakistan.
Howard informed that the left-hander was to have X-rays in the next couple of days, but the likely plan was for him to make his comeback in the Perth Scorchers' second BBL match against Sydney Sixers on December 27, reports ESPNcricinfo.
Marsh, who scored 63 and 15 while opening the batting along with David Warner in the Perth Test, had scored centuries in his previous two Tests.
The 33-year-old is likely to be part of the touring party for February's Test campaign in India once he is passed fit.
"On a personal note, you'd like to see anyone do well. It's been really pleasing to see three debutants, two have actually put down fantastic markers," Howard said.
"Obviously with Nic, we all talked about Adelaide being tough. But the other thing is, there's never the perfect opportunity.”
In the three innings Maddinson has played so far, he has only scored mere five runs and thus he faces major pressure to hold his spot for the Boxing Day Test.