That all but rules Marsh out for Melbourne, with the 33-year-old having been told he had to play at least one Big Bash League match to prove his fitness for Boxing Day. On the shelf: Shaun Marsh broke his finger at the WACA in November. Credit:Getty Images The first game of the season for his BBL franchise, Perth Scorchers, falls December 23 - a full five days after the Test squad is likely to be named - and Marsh is also reportedly in doubt for that match against Adelaide Strikers at the WACA. While missing out on an MCG return would be a blow for Marsh it serves as good news for Maddinson, who in a winning Australian team should be spared from the axe. The interim selection panel chairman Trevor Hohns called for patience for a new-look Australian side before the third Test in South Africa, leaving them little option but to display the same sentiment with their recently-blooded players.

Given Maddinson's troubles in Adelaide and now Brisbane a straight swap for Marsh would have made complete sense. He was an incumbent member of the top six with a hundred and a half-century in his past two Tests as well as a capacity to bat anywhere in the order. But given the limited opportunity for Marsh to complete his recovery from injury, rushing him back is not a smart option and sticking by Maddinson in the short term at least would appear the way forward. Where Australia will really need a fully-fit Marsh is in India in February. Fairfax Media reported on Saturday that Marsh would have scans on his finger on Thursday before it was decided by Cricket Australia medical staff if he could make his return the following night in the BBL. Maddinson's introduction to Test cricket didn't get any more enjoyable on Saturday with a dropped catch in the deep and then another brief stay at the crease in Australia's second innings. In fairness to the Australian No.6 there was little to be achieved when he came to the middle to join Peter Handscomb on the cusp of the dinner break on day three. An Australian declaration was nigh and the 24-year-old's task was merely to blaze away and bump up the already weighty target as best as he could.

He chased after a wide ball from Rahat Ali unsuccessfully with his first delivery faced, then bashed out a boundary down the ground off the bowling of Wahab Riaz with his next. His third ball was his last, though, as he pulled a Wahab ball straight to Babar Azam at fine leg. Loading Maddinson's score of four gave him five runs in three Test innings. Not flattering statistics at all but with Australia cruising the left-hander may live another day. "I've known Maddo for a long time," Usman Khawaja said on Saturday night. "There's no doubt in my mind he's going to play a lot of Test cricket and do well. We needed to get a few runs and he went out and hit a big shot, then another one and lost his wicket for the team. That's the important thing to take out of today."