Australian coach Justin Langer on Monday backed Mitchell Marsh for the Boxing Day Test after the all-rounder missed opening two Test matches against India.

If Marsh is recalled in the Australian squad then middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb will warm the bench in the third Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting Thursday, 27 December.

The ongoing four-match Test series between India and Australia is locked at 1-1 after the Aussie’s thrashed Virat Kohli-led side by 146 runs in Perth.

“In a perfectly balanced side, you’ve got someone who can bowl some overs,” Langer told reporters on Monday.

“And Mitch becomes an attractive commodity on a wicket unlike Adelaide and Perth… although there’s a bit of moisture in it; we also know the history of it.”

So far, Australia’s number five Handscomb’s has managed 68 runs in four innings against India.

“Our fast bowlers have been lucky, we’ve bowled less overs than India’s bowlers at the moment, particularly (Jasprit) Bumrah, and that’s an important part of the series,” Langer said, before adding, “We’re always looking at how we’re trying to manage it.

“In this instance, this is the only test we’re thinking about. But we’re always aware that there are two back-to-back test matches, which is tough.”

Talking about Australia’s playing XI ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Langer also joked the selection dilemma had taken his mind off everything else.

“Pete’s a very good player of spin bowling… and Mitch is a pretty good player of spin bowling too,” Langer said. “We’ll weigh up all those things, and they’re the hard decisions. All those factors, trust me, we think about it.”

Langer further said, “It’s a bit sad, really; I’m not thinking about what Christmas present I’m going to give to my kids, I’m thinking about who plays spin better, whether we’ll play the extra bowler, how many overs have the fast bowlers bowled. It’s sad.”

Speaking about disgraced former Australian skipper Steve Smith, Langer said he could not wait to welcome the right-handed batsman back in the side once the 29-year-old has served out his ball-tampering ban, which ends in March.

“We can’t wait to have him back. He’s the Virat Kohli of the Australian cricket team,” Langer concluded.