I think the Rod Marsh quote (and for many reasons I'm the last person who jumps to his defence on any cricket matter) has been taken out of context to be honest. I think what he meant in essence is that the Mennie vs Bird selection was a 50/50 call on bowling ability and form. Joe Mennie's advantage is that he could bat at number eight if needed, whereas Jackson Bird would find himself last man in.
You (in theory) could end up with a very useful tail of Mennie/Siddle, Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood. I think that the series against South Africa will be one where lower-order runs will be like gold dust, as you could easily see both attacks tearing through the opposing top order at different stages.
Jeepers, I hope Mitchell Marsh has a good WACA Test. A batting average of 24.00 after 29 Test innings from the relative comfort of No. 6 and a bowling average of 36.33 are numbers that he should aim to reverse by the end of his Australian career. I really like him as a cricketer and he seems like a nice young bloke who takes failure very seriously.
@The Mad Hatter I'd like to see Mitch adopt the role Freddie did at The Oval against South Africa in 2003 when he just went BANG!! See ball, hit ball would be my advice. I remember a line from Ian Chappell regarding Doug Walters, where he basically told Doug that if he comes in at 4 for not-much and gets out early playing an aggressive shot, there'll be no kick in the arse from him. "It's the fault of the top order for MAKING us 4 for not-much to begin with!".
It should be a tremendous summer of Test Match fast bowling, what with Australia, South Africa and Pakistan's pace-laden line-ups. Runs will be at a premium - unless of course we see the "return of the road" that plagued the last two home summers (the Adelaide Oval pink ball Test aside).
