Mitch Marsh at centre of massive new concern for Australia heading into second India Test

Aussie captain Pat Cummins has hinted Mitch Marsh might need to be rested at some point during the series against India after managing soreness. Australia endured one of their worst ever cricket defeats on home soil and are facing backlash to make changes.

Although Cummins is reluctant to make changes to the XI having only gone down 1-0. Although Marsh could be forced to take a rest at some point during the summer having struggled after the four-day defeat. Marsh was called upon to bowl 17 overs for the first time in years due to the absence of allrounder Cameron Green in the opening clash against India.

While Marsh performed admirably with the bat in the second innings, having scored 47 runs, Cummins claimed the Western Australian star was going to need to rest ahead of the day-night clash in Adelaide. "He's (been) battling a couple of little niggles since the UK tour," Cummins said after the 295-run defeat to Jasprit Bumrah's side.

"So the main thing is he's in there as one of the top six batters in the country and bowling is a bonus. He was a little bit sore towards the end of this Test match. In the next 10 days, chance to freshen up try and get it right. We'll see how he goes. Ideally, he would be able to bowl in each Test match."

Marsh's soreness is a worry for Australia due to the absence of Green. Beau Webster is in form in the Sheffield Shield and could act as the back-up allrounder. However, Marsh has been in strong from across the last 18 months and showed his value in the middle order in a brittle Australian batting line-up on day four against India.

Australia now face a tough task of winning back the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2017. Australia has a good record in the day-night Test and will fancy their chances against India in Adelaide to level the series. India are looking to take a 2-0 lead and beat Australia at home for a third consecutive series.

Marnus Labuschagne's form questioned

While Marsh is expected to play in Adelaide, Marnus Labuschagne's place is not as certain. Labuschagne has continued his shocking run of low scores with two and three. The No.3 batter hasn't scored a Test ton in 18 months and is averaging just 24.5 this year and 34.9 in 2023.

The right-hander asserted himself as one of the best batters in Test cricket when he averaged 64.9 in the 2019 calendar year, 67.1 in 2020, 65.8 in 2021 and 56.3 in 2022. But he's suffered a staggering fall from grace in the last two years and the runs have completely dried up.

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Despite question marks remaining over the Aussie line-up after the 295-run defeat, Cummins was quick to shut down claims there would be changes. "Marnus, along with quite a few guys in the team, didn't have the week that we would have wanted," Cummins admitted after Australia's humiliation.

"It's no secret how hard the batters, particularly Marnus, work in the nets, and he's always trying to find those small marginal gains. So this week there will be a lot of conversation with the coaches around maybe his approach and what he could be doing differently. We know he's a class player. Him at his best is one of the scariest propositions for opposition bowlers to bowl at."

Labuschagne isn't the only one under pressure. Debutant Nathan McSweeney (10, 0), Usman Khawaja (eight, four) and Steve Smith (0, 17) are the others in the top order who will be seeking a big score.