Too early to judge India's performance: Marsh

New Delhi: India's weakness in handling pace and bounce came back to haunt them against South Africa in the Centurion Test, but former Australian opener Geoff Marsh feels it is too early to point fingers at the World's top Test team.

"Look, this Indian team has performed very consistently. Look at the way they have performed throughout the year. It is just the first innings so let us not be judgemental. The pitch at Centurion was very lively and seamy. It is too early to judge India's performance in South Africa," said Marsh, the coach of new Indian Premier League team Pune Warriors.

India were all out for 136 in the first innings in the first Test, the famed batting line-up caving in with South African pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel wreaking havoc on a lively surface.


India vs SA 

Marsh, who spent some time watching the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Mumbai here Friday to spot players for his IPL team, said that India will be the favourites in next year's World Cup.

He, however, had a word of caution. "It is difficult to predict anything as because of the Indian Premier League, most international players are used to the Indian conditions.

"India are the favourites for the World Cup, they have been playing very consistently. Sub-continental teams will have the advantage, look at the way Bangladesh beat New Zealand."

Commenting on Ashes, Marsh was all praise for Johnson, who Friday roared back to form taking six wickets for 38 runs, which gave Australia a lead of 81 runs. The left-handed seamer gave a lesson in the art of swinging the ball as he broke the back of England batting in a brilliant morning spell that read 9-3-20-4, and then returned to mop up the tail.

"Mitchell's spell was outstanding and it certainly ranks high up among the best Ashes spells bowled by an Australian," said Marsh, the former Australian Test player.

Ashes 

"Mitchell is our strike bowler and he was not in form in the first Test, which could happen. He was a vital cog of the Australian side and his not performing affected the side's performance in the first two Test. Someone had to stand up for the team at Perth and he bowled a brilliant spell today."

Marsh, who spent some time watching the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Mumbai here Friday to spot players for his IPL team, said that India will be the favourites in next year's World Cup.