With the top-three spots of the Australia Test cricket team up for grabs after Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were suspended for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal, veteran Shaun Marsh has said that he is comfortable to open the batting for his side if required later this year.
Former captain Smith and former vice-captain Warner were handed one-year ban, while all-rounder Bancroft was given a nine-month suspension for their involvement in the massive ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
Warner and Bancroft had opened the batting for the Australian side in the eight consecutive Tests before the pair was suspended from playing in the international cricket.
With new coach Justin Langer looking to fill in the vacant spots, Marsh said that he is ready to open the batting for the team if his captain wants him to do so.
The 34-year-old pointed out that he has been pretty flexible over the past few years and had also managed to score well at the top of the order.
"I've been pretty flexible over the years, I've scored runs at the top of the order, I've scored runs in the middle order. It's a fair way away. I just want to put my focus and energy on the next few months for Australia and Glamorgan," cricket.com.au quoted Marsh, as saying.
"It's a fair way away. I just want to put my focus and energy on the next few months for Australia and Glamorgan. If the captain did want (me to open), then I'd feel comfortable but we'll see what happens," added Marsh, who is currently in London with Australia's ODI squad.
As an opener, Marsh had averaged 42 from nine Test innings, including scoring a century in Colombo in 2016.
However, the batsman has enjoyed his most impressive Test run till date at the number 5 and number 6 spots, notching up two centuries and averaging 42 as he played nine consecutive matches over the 2017-18 season.
Australia's next Test assignment will only come in during their trip to the United States when they play against Pakistan in late September.
(With ANI inputs)
