Shaun Marsh’s dodgy back may hand Ricky Ponting a Test lifeline

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting’s Test future remains hanging by a thread, but Shaun Marsh's dodgy back and Australia's worsening injury crisis could hand him a much needed lifeline despite a year of barren form.

Marsh is rated only a 'long shot' by state coach Mickey Arthur to be fit for Western Australia's Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales this week.

His fitness for the first Test against New Zealand is in doubt, while Shane Watson admitted he, too, could be missing from the XI at the Gabba in Brisbane.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the new panel headed by John Inverarity convenes this week to pick its debut Test squad.

The need to rejuvenate an ageing batting line-up, which has failed spectacularly at times in South Africa, will be one of many items on Inverarity's agenda, but there are more problems than solutions being presented.

Selectors would rather close the curtain on Ponting knowing they have able reinforcements to call upon.

But the injury clouds hovering above Marsh and Watson will test the already questionable depth of batting talent waiting in the wings.

The dominant player of the Shield in recent seasons, Usman Khawaja, has learnt this year the difficulty in making the transition from state to Test cricket.

And of the six frontline batsmen picked in the A squad, all average below 45 with the exception of David Warner, whose mark of 59 comes after a small sample size of 10 matches.

Marsh, who was sent home from South Africa early because of a bulging disc in his back, was confident last week he would be fit to play in Brisbane. But his injury history will be a concern for selectors, who will be loath to risk embarrassment by picking an unfit player in their first senior squad.