Merv Hughes defends Rod Marsh and says Australia’s collapse is down to poor scheduling

FORMER Test selector Merv Hughes is scratching his head wondering how Australia could hope to perform any better this summer with such poor scheduling.

Hughes says while AFL players are given a warm-up competition to prepare them for the season ahead, Australia’s cricketers were faced with a one-day series in South Africa followed by one Sheffield Shield match.

“Preparation is the key,” pace great Hughes told Radio SEN Breakfast. “Have a look at what we’ve done to the players this year.

“They get one Shield match. It’s a day-night Shield match with a pink ball under lights. And you think what sort of preparation is that for a Test match?

“The players go back and play a Shield match this week. They’re playing … day games (with a red ball) in preparation for a day-night Test match (with a pink ball).

“So you sit there scratching your head and think well who’s organised this program?”

Australia will be aiming to avoid a series whitewash in the third Test against South Africa starting on November 24 in Adelaide.

Former Test selector Hughes defended the decisions of Rod Marsh’s selection panel.

Following five consecutive Test defeats in Sri Lanka and at home against South Africa in recent months, Marsh made the shock move on Wednesday to quit immediately. Marsh had previously said he would step down after his contract expires in June 2017.

“We’d had six blokes retire in the last 12 months: Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris,” Hughes said.

“Everyone seems to forget about that.

“Test cricket’s a hard game and not too many people come in and grab it by the scruff of the neck when they start.”

Hughes took a swipe at the media’s calls over the past week for Marsh to quit immediately after losses to South Africa in Perth and Hobart.

“A lot of the journos were saying there shouldn’t be an interim period. He should just make a decision and get out,” Hughes said.

“Now he has done that. I certainly hope that Rod Marsh hasn’t bowed to the media pressure.

“I don’t think he’s that sort of person but obviously he’s feeling the pressure.

“He feels it’s the best thing for Australian cricket.”

Cricket Australia appointed current selector and ex-chairman Trevor Hohns as interim chairman, and ex-selector Greg Chappell as interim selector.

“I would have thought Rod Marsh was still the right bloke to be chairman,” 53-Test veteran Hughes said.

Marsh said on Wednesday it was time for some new faces on the selection panel.

”I suppose the one look at it is maybe Rod Marsh got out of it to get some fresh eyes onto the panel,” added Hughes, 54.

“If that was the case, we really haven’t got fresh eyes onto the panel.

“I don’t think it’s the selectors that is the problem.”