Cricket: Australia's chairman of selectors Rod Marsh criticises 'ridiculous' tour schedule

Steve Smith of Australia speaks with match referee Chris Broad after a controversial decision which dismissed Mitchell Marsh. Photo/Getty

First it was Mitchell Marsh's dismissal, now the Aussies are complaining about another "ridiculous" problem on their tour of New Zealand.

Australia's chairman of selectors Rod Marsh has been accused of diverting attention from his team's New Zealand tour performances by needlessly criticising the itinerary.

Marsh was already in the gun for continually snubbing in-form batsmen Usman Khawaja before then deciding to drop Australia's best performing 20/20 spinner (Cameron Boyce) in favour of someone who bowled only nine overs in the Big Bash (Ashton Agar).

Sydney's Daily Telegraph declared it was "a smart move to divert attention away from yourself by focusing on another problem".

"That's exactly what the chairman of selectors did when he hit out at the biggest problem facing Australian players on their tour of New Zealand - the schedule," wrote James McManus.

The two sides played three ODIs in six days, and Australia's players barely had time to warm down after Monday night's decider because they had to get on a bus from Hamilton to Auckland, before flying out to Wellington - the venue for the first Test - on Tuesday.

The opening Test of the two-match series begins on Friday, giving those players part of both the ODI and Test squads just two days to switch from white ball to red ball mode. And Marsh isn't happy about it.

"I just reiterate how sorry I feel for the players. I mean it's been a ridiculous program for them to try and combat," said Marsh.

"Playing three different formats in the space of a week and a half or whatever it is.
"The whole season has been difficult to navigate. It's been extremely difficult.

"I don't know how they do it. I take my hat off to them."

While some Test players have been able to prepare by playing for their states in the Sheffield Shield competition, no warm-up games were put on the agenda in New Zealand - a rarity for touring sides who usually have at least one or two practice matches against domestic teams.

Steve Smith, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood are the players affected by the demanding schedule, which comes off the back of them finishing their 20/20 series against India at home on January 26.

But the Australian captain was more diplomatic than Marsh when quizzed about the itinerary.

"We jump from different formats day in, day out," Smith said.

"It's just about making sure the guys adapt accordingly ... reining it in and making sure we have our defence in order."

Marsh's qualms come the day after Australia blew up that Mitch Marsh was given out caught-and-bowled in the final one-dayer only after a replay of the incident was shown on the big screen.

- news.com.au