Shaun Marsh's long-term future in the Big Bash League is now assured after a shock move to Melbourne Renegades but his short-term outlook is not nearly as settled after being axed from Australia's ODI side.
Marsh was squeezed out of the XI for Australia's series decider against India in Delhi.
Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns and coach Justin Langer stewed over the decision once it became clear that Marcus Stoinis was fit for the high-stakes game.
Ashton Turner, having been called up for the fourth ODI because of Stoinis' broken thumb, would ordinarily have been dropped.
But Turner's unbeaten 84 in Chandigarh was anything but ordinary and with a single innings he has climbed above Marsh in the pecking order.
Marsh, who started the current tour as Australia's form batsman after scoring four tons from his past nine ODIs, is no longer the World Cup certainty he once appeared to be.
Turner, Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb's stocks have all increased in India, where selectors continue to mull who should be dumped to accommodate the return of Steve Smith and David Warner.
Marsh has bounced off the canvas on countless occasions when his international career has appeared over - and was one of few batsmen to stand up on a miserable one-day tour of England last year.
But if the veteran remains on the sidelines - or is given a chance and fails to fire - throughout the five-match series against Pakistan that starts on March 22 then his hopes of making the World Cup squad will be over.
Meanwhile, Marsh will leave Perth for the first time in his career and head to the Renegades for next summer's BBL.
A member of arguably Western Australia's most famous cricket family, Marsh's defection comes as a major shock given he has played for the Scorchers since the competition's inception in 2011.
Marsh's father Geoff played 100 Sheffield Shield games for WA between 1977 and 1994 while not away on international duty, while his brother Mitch is both the Scorchers and Warriors' captain.
The 36-year-old's move on a multi-year deal doesn't impact his first-class and 50-over cricket with Western Australia but ends a Scorchers tenure that includes 37 matches for the club.
"I'd like to thank everyone at the Scorchers who have supported me over the years - it was a very successful period for the club," Marsh said in a statement.
"But I'm ready for a new challenge and the opportunity to join the Renegades on the back of such a successful season is very exciting."
Marsh has the second-highest average in BBL history, with 1435 runs at 49.48.
Share
