As far as awkward family moments go, day one of the fourth Ashes Test was a cracker for the Marsh brothers.

Mitch was told he was dropped, with Australia playing a Test without an allrounder for the first time in almost 18 months.

The solace was he had been axed so brother Shaun could play his first Ashes Test.

“So it wasn’t too bad,” the younger Marsh insisted.

“It was certainly a bit of a weird one.

“I gave him a hug and wished him all the best, picked up my bottom lip and that was it.”

Marsh naturally had conflicting emotions.

But the 23-year-old’s main feeling was nervousness as Shaun walked to the wicket after one over; Australia 2-10.

“I wanted Shaun to play. I want Shaun to play every Test,” he said.

“The hardest thing about that was that I got the game off and I was still nervous for him when he was batting.

“Not that he was out there for long.”

Shaun continued what can only be described as an enigmatic Test career.

Having posted confident tons in tour games against Kent and Derbyshire, he looked a bundle of nerves at Trent Bridge.

Scores of zero and two followed; the latest example of the immense gap between the 32-year-old’s best and worst cricket.

“It’s certainly very frustrating,” Mitch Marsh said.

“He never makes excuses or anything like that.

“We’ve all said that we feel as he’s in the best form of his career. One Test match is probably not something we can judge him on. Hopefully now is his time.”

The expectation is selectors will make another Marsh for Marsh call next Thursday, when the fifth Test starts at the Oval.

Mitch hopes not, imploring Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann to keep the faith with his sibling.

“He’s probably never had a really good run at it, whether that be through form or injury,” he said.

“He works extremely hard and all he wants to do is do well for Australia.

“Hopefully he might get an extended run now and have a crack. At 32 it certainly is time for him.”

Pundits have questioned why Australia went into the fourth Test without an allrounder, but Mitch noted he only had himself to blame.

“If I had’ve made a hundred at Edgbaston then there’s no way I would’ve missed out,” he said.