SYDNEY: Selectors called batsman Shaun Marsh into Australia’s Test squad on Thursday as cover for recovering captain Michael Clarke ahead of next week’s opening Test with India.

Marsh, 31, will join the original 12-man squad in Adelaide, where the rescheduled four-Test series begins against India on Tuesday.

Clarke and his grief-stricken team-mates attended Phillip Hughes’ funeral on Wednesday and began assembling in Adelaide on Thursday for next week’s series opener.

It is not yet clear if any of the Australian squad will withdraw from the Test, with emotions still raw following Hughes’ freak death last week.

Hughes, who had played 26 Tests and was on the cusp of a recall, died from bleeding on the brain after being hit by a rising ball at the Sydney Cricket Ground during a domestic match on Nov 25.

Cricket Australia has reassured those selected that they can withdraw from the Test if they are having problems emotionally.

“We hope the boys can find the inner strength to play the game in the way Phillip would have wanted in Adelaide next week and that they can honour what he had done,” coach Darren Lehmann wrote in a column for The Australian on Thursday. “It’s going to be hard and if somebody is struggling Michael [Clarke] and I understand. There is no pressure on them.

“We will look after them and we will help them get back to the place where they can play.”

Hughes and Marsh were the leading candidates to replace Clarke last month, when the 33-year-old skipper was set to be ruled out of the first Test while recovering from a third hamstring setback since August.

The two Test contenders had both been in action for their respective state sides on Nov 25.

Marsh brought up a century that day with three sixes off Victoria leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but like all cricketers was later in a state of shock after hearing that Hughes had been rushed to hospital for emergency brain surgery. Hughes died two days later.

Shaun Marsh joined his brother, Mitch, in the squad and are one step closer to playing together in a Test match.

Shaun and Mitch, sons of 50-Test batsman Geoff, could become the first brothers to play in an Australian Test side since Mark and Steve Waugh in 2002.

“It would be huge,” Shaun Marsh said last month. “From a young age, we’ve both wanted to play Test cricket.”

Mitch will play his first Test at home next week, having made an impressive debut against Pakistan in October.

Shaun’s greatest Test knocks have all come overseas. In Australia he has amassed 17 runs from six innings, all against India in 2011-12.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Ryan Harris has declared himself a certain starter for the first Test against India but cannot say the same for all of his team-mates.

Harris wrote in a column for Fairfax Media that Wednesday’s funeral had reminded him that, despite the solemn occasion, people wanted the team to play.

“Seeing the green and gold streamers was a reminder these people want to see some cricket played, want to see us get out there and beat the Indians,” he said in comments published on Thursday, referring to Australia’s national sporting colours.

“One thing I noticed late on Wednesday was how the mood in the group had begun to shift. There were a few conversations about getting back to playing. The funeral was a bit of a milestone. As well as to pay your respects it gives you a bit of closure.

“I know some guys have really struggled — some haven’t even picked up a bat or ball yet since it happened. They’re just not going to know, until they pick a bat or ball up, whether or not they’re going to be capable of playing.”

Harris spent most the year recovering from knee surgery and missed the 2-0 Test series defeat against Pakistan in United Arab Emirates, but said he felt fit and ready for India.

“My knee that got operated on after the South Africa series is going really well — so well it’s almost scary,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2014