Aussie all-rounder race heats up

Nicholas McGee

Aussie all-rounder race heats up image

Mitchell Marsh further strengthened his case to play for Australia in the first Ashes Test with an unbeaten 136 against Essex, and damaged the roof of a nearby house in the process.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann recently described the battle between all-rounders Marsh and Shane Watson for a place in Australia's Test team as "tight".

And Marsh - fresh from scoring 101 against Kent last week - did his best to get ahead of his rival with a powerful performance as Australia racked up 440-6 on day one of their second tour match.

Marsh struck 15 fours and five sixes, with one ball ending up lodged in the roof of a house close to the County Ground in Chelmsford.

Watson contributed 52 before being bowled by Ryan ten Doeschate (1-49), while opener David Warner raced to 94 off 86 balls, with Jamie Porter (1-71) robbing him of a century.

Back-up wicketkeeper Peter Nevill impressed by scoring 78, but captain Michael Clarke was out for a first-ball duck off the bowling of Thomas Moore (2-50).

Nicholas McGee