Australia No.3 batsman Shaun Marsh’s short-term Test future looks shaky after another failure on Tuesday in the fourth Test against India in Adelaide.

The home side won the toss and reached 3-98 at lunch as India made a wonderful start in sunny conditions on a pitch that appeared slow-paced.

Skipper Michael Clarke is eight not out and ex-captain Ricky Ponting has hit seven boundaries in his unbeaten 43 in 83 minutes.

David Warner (eight) was unable to repeat his century in the third Test and was out lbw to paceman Zaheer Khan in the seventh over.

Marsh fell three overs later when he was bowled between bat and pad for three, having missed a straight one from offspinner Ravi Ashwin.

Ashwin (2-20) claimed a second victim when opener Ed Cowan (30) was caught at cover at 3-84.

Marsh’s hesitant 12-ball display brings his tally for the series to 17 runs at an average of 3.40.

The 28-year-old West Australian has scored 0, 3, 0, 11 and 3 against India.

Australia’s next Test is against West Indies in Barbados in April, with dumped No.3 Usman Khawaja and the struggling Marsh both hoping for selection in a squad for the three-Test tour.

The expected return from injury of star allrounder Shane Watson could mean former opener Watson simply takes over from Marsh at No.3 in the Caribbean.

In any case, Marsh will be sweating on getting another opportunity in Australia’s second innings in Adelaide to bolster his case for selection.

Australia lead the four-match series three-nil and have recalled offspinner Nathan Lyon for paceman Mitchell Starc.

India named wicketkeeper/batsman Wriddhiman Saha for suspended skipper MS Dhoni while fast bowler Vinay Kumar was dropped for Ashwin.

The tourists had announced a 12-man squad on Monday but opted against taking two spinners into the game with left-arm slow bowler Pragyan Ojha named 12th man.

Captain Virender Sehwag introduced Ashwin to the bowling crease for the fourth over of the match in an indication two spinners might have been handy on this Adelaide pitch.