Cricket: Ill Marsh epected to pad up in Perth test

Shaun Marsh. Photo / Getty Images

Australian batsman Shaun Marsh has been declared a certain starter for the third test against India, despite being struck down by a bug yesterday.

Marsh was scheduled to front the media in Perth yesterday, but told officials he couldn't fulfil his duties after waking up under the weather.

However, he is expected to recover sufficiently to join in at training today, with veteran batsman Mike Hussey confident his West Australian teammate was in no doubt for the test.

"He'll be at training I'm sure with the boys and preparing as well as he can," said Hussey, who filled in for Marsh at the press conference.

Marsh has struggled since returning from a back injury, posting scores of just 0, 3 and 0 over the first two tests against India.

Hussey backed the 28-year-old to bounce back in his first test at his home ground in Perth.

"The WACA crowd always give the local guys a huge welcome and a louder roar than any other player, so he's got plenty of motivation to play exceptionally well in this test," Hussey said.

"It's always tough when you have been out of the game for over a month to be able to come straight back into test match cricket and perform straight away. It does take a bit of time.

"But he has been working very hard and he's been hitting the ball very well in the nets.

"So it's just a case of him being able to get through that first half an hour of his innings and then if he gets a start, I'm sure he'll want to turn it into a big hundred."

- AAP