Shaun Marsh has missed an opportunity to quell speculation over his Test future after another single-digit dismissal against India at the SCG.
Marsh's brief innings on day three of the final Test in Sydney provided another example of why he is such a polarising figure among Australian cricket fans.
A couple of classy shots followed by a tame dismissal meant Marsh was headed to the pavilion after facing just 13 balls on Saturday.
His only two scoring strokes in an innings of eight were elegant cover-driven boundaries off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.
But it proved to be another teasing, tantalising and exasperating cameo from the 35-year-old West Australian, who prodded a straight Jadeja delivery to Ajinkya Rahane at slip.
It was his eighth single-digit score in his past 12 Test innings, though he managed scores of 60, 45 and 44 in his three previous games.
The suggestion Marsh is a nervous starter is backed by the fact that 41 per cent of his Test dismissals (28 of 68) have been for single figure scores.
Unless he makes a significant score in Australia's second innings, speculation over his position is bound to bubble along heading into the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting later this month.
Beyond that, former captain Steve Smith is set to reclaim a top-order spot for the Ashes series after he completes his 12-month ban.
"He (Marsh) is leaving the door ajar with what's coming up with the two Tests against Sri Lanka and the Ashes tour of England," former Australian Test batsman Simon Katich said on SEN.
