Australia face fresh batting woes

SYDNEY: Australia's beleaguered batting line-up faces fresh problems ahead of their Test series against India with Shaun Marsh struggling for fitness and doubts cast over Shane Watson's opening role.

The top order came in for fierce criticism following Monday's humiliating loss to New Zealand in Hobart after the home side were seemingly on course for victory when 159 for two chasing 241 runs to win.

Australia begin their four-Test series against second-ranked India in Melbourne on December 26 with question marks over the careers of veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey and the team's young batsmen mostly in poor touch.

Neither Marsh nor Watson played in the two-Test series with New Zealand, ranked eighth, which ended 1-1.

Marsh has been ruled out of the second tour match against India in Canberra starting Monday after failing to recover from a back injury and is unlikely to play in the Melbourne Test.

New coach Mickey Arthur urged selectors to make a decision on where injury-prone opener Watson would be in the batting order given the bowling duties heaped on him by captain Michael Clarke.