SYDNEY: Australia s beleaguered batting line-up faces fresh problems ahead of their Test series against India with Shaun Marsh struggling for fitness and doubts cast over Shane Watson s opening role.The top order came in for fierce criticism following Monday s humiliating loss to New Zealand in Hobart after the home side were seemingly on course for victory when 159 for two chasing 241 runs to win.Australia begin their four-Test series against second-ranked India in Melbourne on December 26 with question marks over the careers of veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey and the team s young batsmen mostly in poor touch.Neither Marsh nor Watson played in the two-Test series with New Zealand, ranked eighth, which ended 1-1.Marsh has been ruled out of the second tour match against India in Canberra starting Monday after failing to recover from a back injury and is unlikely to play in the Melbourne Test.New coach Mickey Arthur urged selectors to make a decision on where injury-prone opener Watson would be in the batting order given the bowling duties heaped on him by captain Michael Clarke.
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