Reports have circulated on the alleged injury hampering the bowling of star Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, as he continues to push his case for the second Test in Adelaide.

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And elsewhere, Adelaide Oval’s head curator has admitted he’s prepared for rain to hit the city on Day 1, as fans catch their first glimpse of the pitch.

Keep up with all the latest news ahead of the second match in Adelaide with Test Daily!

MARSH’S NIGGLE REPORTEDLY REVEALED

On the back of bowling 17 overs in Perth as Australia’s fourth seam bowling option, initial questions were posed around the recovery of Western Australia star Mitchell Marsh; and then heightened after the inclusion of Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster to the squad.

And in a recent development, SEN’s Tom Morris reported on Wednesday afternoon that the star Western Australian’s injury concerns revolve around his back, which will all but certainly rule him out of bowling against India in the Test starting Friday.

While selectors will have the option of selecting uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster in his place to strengthen the side’s bowling stocks, Nine’s Braden Ingram spoke to Marsh at the airport on Tuesday, where he stated “the body’s all good.”

Beyond Australia’s three quicks and Nathan Lyon, the under-pressure Marcus Labuschagne (seam/leg-spin) and Travis Head (off-spin) look the next best players to turn to for extra overs, with recent debutant Nathan McSweeney (off-spin) also an option.

Beyond the playing 11 from Perth, at least one of Scott Boland or uncapped dup Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett will play in Adelaide, replacing the injured Josh Hazlewood.

As for Marsh, if he is deemed unfit, one of Webster or reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will make their Test debut in his place.

HEAD CURATOR PREPARING FOR ALL CONDITIONS

Speaking to media on Wednesday morning, Adelaide Oval head curator Damian Hough has flagged the possibility of some rare precipitation in Adelaide’s CBD amid the opening part of the pink-ball Test.

“Friday looks like it could be thunderstorms, which is a bit unique for Adelaide this time of year,” Hough said.

“I’m not sure exactly on the timing of those storms coming through, but we’re expecting to pull covers a bit on Friday. Hopefully it clears out on Saturday morning … then it should be good for the remainder of the Test.”

As of Wednesday 3:45pm AEDT, the Bureau of Meteorology (also known as BOM) has 0-7mm of rain predicted for the opening day of the second Test, with a 70 per cent chance of precipitation and possible storms.

Beyond Friday, the forecast is extremely promising, with no rain forecast for any of the final three days and no more than 2mm for day two.

Like almost every pitch leading up to an Australian Test match, the surface had tinges of green on it four days out from the first ball.

And while the weather is obviously out of Hough’s hands, his plans for the pitch at the Oval will stay the same as they always have been under his reign.

“Shield games, whether it’s a red ball or a pink one, we’re trying to replicate the Shield and the Test preparation … (they have) very similar preparations,” added Hough.

“The Shield pitch (most recently between South Australia and Western Australia) showed if you didn’t get a new ball under lights and you had a couple of set batters in, you’re able to see through some night-time cricket.”

The Test match at the picturesque venue will be India’s first since they were infamously rolled for 36 against Australia in their last tour to the country in 2020/21.

Adelaide is expected to go very close to, if not completely sell out the venue with over 53,000 attendees on Friday, with strong crowds expected across the weekend as they are every summer.