Cowan awaits Marsh’s fitness result for his Test debut

In-form newcomer Ed Cowan said on Wednesday he will be fully prepared if Shaun Marsh fails to make Australia’s first Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next week. Cowan was one of three additions to a 13-man Australian squad announced on Wednesday for the Boxing Day blockbuster with India. Marsh has only played three Tests but has back trouble from the recent South Africa tour and is fighting to take his place in the first of four Tests.Cowan, who has presented undeniable selection claims after his fourth century in his past four games, wants to be as well prepared as possible should the call come to make his Test debut at the age of 29.“You would be silly to prepare expecting not to play,” Cowan said in Canberra after the Chairman’s XI’s drawn match with India. “I’ve got no idea how Shaun’s back is. I’ll assume Shaun will be fit and then it’s down to the balance of the side. I’m excited to be a part of the team and hopefully I’ll get my chance on Boxing Day to continue a decent run of form.”Cowan hit 109 for the Chairman’s XI against India along with two centuries in this season’s domestic Sheffield Shield and one for Australia A against the touring New Zealanders. But Cowan stressed that his selection in the Test squad was not purely on the strength of this season’s prolific form.“It’s two-and-a-half years of solid domestic cricket form. I’ve got nine first-class hundreds in the last two-and-a-half years so it’s not four hundreds in four weeks and suddenly you’re in the Test team,” he said.