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AAP
AAP
Sport
Joel Gould

Marsh to bat only if picked for T20 game

Mitch Marsh will bat only if picked for Australia's first T20 game against the West Indies (David Gray/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Captain Aaron Finch has confirmed allrounder Mitchell Marsh won't bowl in Australia's opening T20 clash with the West Indies on Wednesday.

Marsh, who starred for Australia with the bat at No.3 in last year's T20 World Cup triumph, missed the recent T20 tour of India with an ankle injury.

Finch said he had "nothing" to give on the makeup of the team to play on Wednesday, with all to be revealed at the toss.

But he confirmed Marsh's status as a batsman-only should he be selected for the match at Metricon Stadium.

"He is being managed. He had his second bowl yesterday and pulled up really well from it. That is a real positive sign," Finch said.

"(Marsh) has made that No.3 spot his own in T20 cricket and I think the way that he played in the lead-up and through the World Cup is so important to the way we want to play and gives a lot of flexibility through that middle order."

Fellow allrounder Marcus Stoinis, another key figure in last year's World Cup title, is resting a side injury in Perth and will not be available for the two-game series against the West Indies, but is expected to be fit for the subsequent three-match series against England.

"We were just conscious of the travel with a quick turnaround here and then only one travel day between the game (against England) in Perth," Finch said.

"It can be quite a high risk game for guys with soft issue injuries. I will be excited to get him back in because he is such an important part of our side and the makeup of it, especially with his bowling."

Finch also indicated allrounder Cameron Green, who will take part in the West Indies series, was unlikely to be drafted into the squad for the upcoming World Cup in Australia despite his outstanding T20 form in India.

Finch said that if Stoinis did not recover in time for the World Cup that Green could "potentially" be the next man in, but said on balance that his inclusion was unlikely.

"I am not sure at the moment. I don't think so," Finch said.

"He had a really good tour of India and it was a good opportunity for him to open the batting. He will get more opportunities.

"The reason we have carried him is to have an extra bowling resource as well. His batting is exceptional and he shows a lot with the ball. He keeps developing and keeps improving every time he gets an opportunity."

Finch said "all the quicks" were fit and ready to go including Mitchell Starc, who missed the India series with a knee injury.

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