Justin Langer, Australia's T20 coach, has backed Shaun Marsh to fill the much-coveted number six spot in the national Test side for the upcoming four-match series against India beginning February 23 at Pune.
"It depends on which balance they go for, how Australia wants to line up," Sydney Morning Herald quoted Langer as saying.
"If they go the traditional XI you'd pick Shaun because of his record in not only the subcontinent but for Australia."
"He deserves to play, Shaun deserves to play in the Test match. Even before his injury, he deserved to play," he added.
Marsh hasn't played any Test match since the one against South Africa in November when he aggravated an existing finger injury.
Shaun Marsh and his brother Mitchell both have been selected in the 16-man squad to tour India for the four-match Test series.
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But, both Shaun and his brother Mitchell have been selected in the 16-man squad to tour India.
Meanwhile, interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, while naming the squad last month, had highlighted the need for flexibility against the world's No.1 Test side.
"Shaun (Marsh) is proven in subcontinent conditions and is coming off a hundred in his last Test match in Sri Lanka," Hohns had said.
"He is a very versatile batsman who can slot in at the top or the middle of the order," he added.
Besides Shaun, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has already expressed his desire to fill in the number sixth spot.
The first Test in Pune (February 23-27) would be followed by games in Bengaluru (March 4-8), Ranchi (March 16-20) and Dharamsala (March 25-29)
Australia Squad: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade (wk).