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Ashes call-up Marsh signed by Glamorgan

Shaun Marsh had weightier matters on his mind as the Brisbane Test loomed, but when it is all over he will turn his thoughts to a two-year deal with Glamorgan

David Hopps
David Hopps
22-Nov-2017
Shaun Marsh leaves the nets at The Gabba  •  Getty Images

Shaun Marsh leaves the nets at The Gabba  •  Getty Images

Shaun Marsh, who won a surprise recall by Australia for the start of the Ashes series, has been named as Glamorgan's overseas player for the next two seasons.
Marsh's main concern 24 hours before the start of the first Test at the Gabba was to recover from a stiff back, which curtailed his final practice session, but when the Ashes are done and dusted he will be heading to south Wales.
Glamorgan have secured Marsh in all three formats of the game and he will be available for the full county season subject to the 2018 IPL draft. If he gains an IPL contract, he will join up with Glamorgan following his commitments in India.
Marsh has played in nine out of 10 IPLs, only missing the second season of the tournament in 2009, but at 34 his presence in 2018 cannot be taken for granted.
There again, he has just won his eighth recall to Australia's Test squad in a career that has spread over 23 Tests, as well as 68 matches in limited-overs formats, in the past decade.
His pedigree in T20 is impressive - he is also a three-time winner of BBL with Perth Scorchers.
Marsh is reasserting county cricket loyalties. He played for Glamorgan during the T20 campaign of 2012, as well as being a member of the Australian touring party for the 2015 Ashes played in England and Wales. He spent part of last season with Yorkshire.
"I'm extremely excited to join Glamorgan for the 2018 season," he said, lifting his attention from Ashes preparations for a few seconds. "I have some great memories of the club when I played in Cardiff in 2012 and I'm glad to be back.
"Securing my county future for the long term has always appealed to me so I jumped at the opportunity when it came. There is a lot of exciting young talent at the club and hopefully I can put in some good performances so we can bring some silverware to Wales."
Marsh's experience makes him a road-tested option and he will blend will with Glamorgan's exciting new crop of homegrown products.
Hugh Morris, Glamorgan's director of cricket, said: "We wanted to bring in someone who is experienced at international level, can bat at the top of the order and can play in all three formats of the game, and Shaun ticks all of those boxes for us."
In many ways that makes Marsh a direct replacement for the South African Jacques Rudolph, who spent four seasons at Glamorgan as a captain and top-order batsman before retiring at the end of last season.

David Hopps is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps