With star all-rounder Cameron Green injured, the need for Mitch Marsh to bowl in Test cricket is at an all-time high.

But it hasn’t happened.

The Australian cricket team had a slight glimpse into that during the third Test at the Gabba.

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Josh Hazlewood went down, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc the only front-line fast bowlers left.

Experts constantly noted how jaded Cummins and Starc were starting to look late on day four when they were desperate to bowl out India to enforce a follow-on.

Understandably so, considering they bowled 22 and 24 overs respectively.

But a helping hand could’ve been Marsh. Instead he bowled just two overs.

The popular West Australian came into the match prior under an injury cloud.

“I’ll be good to go,” he told 9News’ Braden Ingram in the lead up to the Adelaide Test.

There he bowled only four overs and followed up with two more in Brisbane and there was certainly an expectation externally for more.

Cummins explained Marsh’s lack of overs came from both him and Starc being fresh due to the constant rain delays.

“We were feeling really good, it was hot (on day four) but we had about seven days off bowling after Adelaide so we were fresh and ready to go and if anything the rain breaks helped us get a little bit of a break,” he told reporters after the Test’s final day.

“We kind of went in thinking we wouldn’t need a lot more from Mitch Marsh, we felt like we got enough breaks so he wasn’t needed as much and also a bit of an eye to the second innings. If we had a fresh, brand new ball, I would’ve leant on Mitch a lot to try and take those 10 wickets in the second innings.

“… I suspect we’ll call on Mitch at some stage in the next few Test matches to get us a breakthrough when needed.”

How much of a role Marsh plays with the ball in Melbourne remains to be seen.

So is Marsh now effectively a batter in this side? When Green’s there, absolutely.

‘The Bison’ becoming a Test regular is one of the great stories of Australia’s modern side. His talent was undeniable but early on in his career, the runs didn’t come.

Then came THAT century at Headingley in the 2023 Ashes.

It stamped his name as a man built for Test cricket. His presence in the dressing room and outstanding fielding adds a layer to his value.

But this year, the runs haven’t been as forthcoming.

There’s been two half centuries, and this series has included 6, 47, 9, 5 and 2.

The big question will be around whether he bowls in the rest of the series.

India’s poor batting, and Australia’s quality bowling means he hasn’t been called upon too much, having bowled just 23 overs across three Tests.

Callum Ferguson believes all-rounder Beau Webster should be on “high alert” for a debut.

“He’ll have to come into consideration because of the overs he potentially offers … I’m really interested to see which way the selectors go,” he said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.

“[I’m not leaving Marsh] out of the 11 yet, but if the bowlers are a bit sore and you’re worried about one of them going down, because we saw what can happen if you get left short on overs, how much pressure that puts on two highly valuable members of that lineup … you’ve got to take that in consideration.

“If either of them are feeling a bit iffy, you might need to make that change.”