Cricket: Shaun Marsh left with burnt arms due to sunscreen superstition

AAP

7 Jan, 2018 05:02 PM2 mins to read

Shaun Marsh doesn't wear sunscreen when he bats. Photo / AAP

Shaun Marsh will have two roasted arms to show for Sunday's dream century after he batted through the hottest conditions for Ashes Test cricket in Australia on record.

Temperatures at nearby Bureau of Meteorology stations reached 43.4C and 43.7C, above the record 43.1C taken during the 1908 Adelaide Ashes Test.

A heat stress tracker - which takes into account environmental factors for a "feels like" mark - at the ground also displayed a reading of 57.6C in the middle.

But it seems even those indicators wouldn't have persuaded Marsh after it was revealed by his wife Bec that the superstitious Australian batsman wouldn't wear sunscreen while batting.

Marsh was eventually barbecued by Tim Paine on 156 after 401 minutes at the wicket on Saturday and Sunday, when the wicketkeeper took off for for a quick single shortly after lunch.

"Shaun will probably kill me for saying this, he has a batting superstition of not wearing sunscreen when batting," Bec revealed to the Nine Network on Sunday.

"He came home yesterday with bright red arms."

Marsh and his brother Mitch confirmed the superstition after play.

"It's probably not very sun smart, but oh well," Shaun said.

The heat also appeared to have some affect on the English batsmen, who fell to 4-93 at stumps, still trailing the hosts by 210.

Australia's Mitchell Marsh, right, celebrates with his brother, Shaun Marsh, after making 100 runs. Photo / AP

The 193 overs they sent down in Australia's first innings was the most bowled by either team in an Ashes match since 1993, while their total time spent in the field for the summer reached 1000 overs.

It marked the fifth time in as many Tests they have had to send down more than 120 overs in at least one innings.

In comparison, the English have batted that long just once this summer, but will likely need to reach that amount and more if they are to save the Test and avoid a 4-0 series scoreline.