Western Australia 194 and 98 for 4 (Whiteman 56*) lead Victoria 255 (Macdonald 79, Short 62, Gannon 5-47) by 37 runs

Mitchell Marsh's Test audition has failed, dismissed cheaply for the second time in Western Australia's Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.

In his first red-ball game since being dropped by Australia following last year's Boxing Day Test, Marsh made just 4 in WA's second innings on Saturday after managing 9 on day one.

He lasted just six balls as he fell to Victorian seamer Sam Elliott, who is enjoying one of the best games of his first-class career.

Marsh, who last played a Shield match in October 2024, had been touted as a potential shock factor at the top of Australia's order in this summer's Ashes.

But another Test call-up seems unlikely with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald making a promising start to their opening combination for Australia.

Marsh had to wait more than half a day on Saturday to get an opportunity to bat, with no play possible until midway through the second session due to rain in Melbourne.

With WA starting day three on 5 for 1, Marsh was quickly in the game after nightwatchman Corey Rocchiccioli was trapped lbw by Elliott.

The visitors crumbled to 17 for 3 when Marsh exited, before captain Sam Whitemanand fellow veteran Hilton Cartwright rallied.

The pair got WA to 75 for 4, a lead of 14, when bad light stopped play midway through the final session. But play was able to resume again, with WA getting to 98 for 4 at stumps and Whiteman unbeaten on 56.

With the weather likely to be fine on Sunday, Victoria will still fancy their chances of running through WA and securing an outright win.