Marsh set to miss second Test, Voges fit

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is set to lose his spot for the second Test against South Africa in Hobart as Australia's team management may go in with six specialist batsmen.

With Australia likely to go in with only bowlers and six specialist batsmen, Mitchell Marsh may be left out of the second Test in Hobart.

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is set to lose his spot for the second Test against South Africa, but Adam Voges has been passed fit. Marsh's form has been questioned, and calls have come for Australia to play six specialist batsmen after its loss to the Proteas in the series opener.

With rain expected for at least the opening two days of the Test in Hobart, Marsh could lose his spot. "We'll wait until [Saturday] and see what's happening with the weather. You might not need to have that extra bowling option if there's a lot of rain around," captain Steve Smith told a news conference on Friday.

"There's possibilities we could go in with six genuine batsmen. We'll wait and see. I guess it will depend over the next 24 hours and what the wicket looks like and the forecast looks like. The forecast isn't great for the next couple of days so we'll wait until the Test to name a team."

Meanwhile, Voges was under an injury cloud because of a hamstring issue suffered in Perth. But Smith believes the 37-year-old is ready to go, saying: "He's fine. I think if he's fit he'll be in the team. He's come through his fitness test fine so I think he'll be good to go."