Marsh will retain his spot in the squad for the second Test
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Australia head coach Darren Lehmann has revealed that the Baggy Greens will field the same squad for the second Test against South Africa in Hobart, which starts on November 12.
There had been a few questions surrounding the future of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, but they will receive another opportunity to make their presence felt.
Lehmann also admitted that Australia had let the ongoing first Test in Perth slip out of their grasp as they allowed the Proteas to take control when they looked in all sorts of trouble at the end of the first day.
Furthermore, Lehmann pointed out that his side had failed to take advantage of the fact that South Africa pace maestro Dale Steyn was ruled out of the match and series after injuring his right shoulder on the second day. Steyn is set to be out of action for six months as he will undergo surgery after being diagnosed with a “fracture of the bone in the shoulder joint”.
“We spoke about that, probably not playing their natural games at times, especially to the left-arm spinner getting the field back,” Lehmann told ABC Radio. “So we probably were a bit too timid at times and not looking to score and rotate the strike. Having said that they did bowl well, and we didn’t counter it well enough.
“They do all the prep, they’re great young men, they’re trying to do as well as they can for Australia each and every time, it’s just a case of little mental lapses at times. Collectively we’re always pretty positive, but stats will show we haven’t batted as well as we would have liked the last few Test matches. There’s no hiding the fact we’ve got to bat better.
“There’s always pressure when you’re coaching your country or playing for the country, that’s why the guys have got to where they’ve got to. They’ve been brilliant doing all the work behind the scenes and playing at the level below, now they’ve got to do it at this level. There’s always pressure whether you win or lose, a lot less when you’re winning.”