Shaun Marsh added to Australian Test squad

Melbourne, Dec 4 (IANS) Left-handed batsman Shaun Marsh Thursday was added to Australia's Test squad as attention turned towards the four-match Test Series against India starting Dec 9 at the Adelaide Oval.

"The National Selection Panel has today advised that West Australian Shaun Marsh has been added to the Test squad as an additional batsman for the first Test," CA said in a release.

"The Australian Test squad will assemble in Adelaide today and tomorrow ahead of the first Test starting on Tuesday 9 December." 

The 31-year-old Marsh's call-up comes as question marks remain over captain Michael Clarke's fitness. Clarke had been recovering from a hamstring injury but had put his treatment on hold after Hughes was struck batting in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Nov 25. 

The addition to the Test squad, which now numbers 13, raises the prospect of Shaun and Mitch Marsh becoming the first set of brothers to play Tests for Australia since Steve and Mark Waugh in October 2002.

Ahead of the last round of Shield matches, Marsh and Hughes were both batting with the knowledge there was likely to be a vacant spot in the Australia team for a Test match that had been due to start Thursday. 

Marsh, batting at the MCG against Victoria, scored an unbeaten 134, featuring 12 boundaries and three sixes before the Sheffield Shield matches were abandoned in the wake of Hughes's death. 

Australia squad: Michael Clarke (Captain), Brad Haddin (Wicketkeeper), Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.