Boom allrounder praised by Australian skipper
Marsh on track to fulfil potential
Mitchell Marsh’s stocks as the Australia’s allrounder in waiting continue to rise despite being shunted down the order for today’s tri-series match against Zimbabwe.
Marsh is highly thought of by the people that matter in Australian cricket, and there is a feeling it will be sooner rather than later that he becomes a fixture in the national team in all three formats – Test, ODI and Twenty20.
For now, the 22-year-old is aiming to cement a place in Australia’s one-day set-up ahead of the finalisation of their 15-man World Cup squad in early January.
He began with a flurry, having a century there for the taking before he holed out for 89 in the tournament’s opening match against Zimbabwe but was then trapped lbw for five by veteran South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir in the next match.
Quick Single: Australia v Zimbabwe match report
And while he has surrendered his place at number three to Michael Clarke, who returns to the starting XI having overcome a hamstring injury, the Australian captain has endorsed the Western Australia’s progress having earmarked him for a top order batting berth before the current touring party left for Africa.
“I spoke to Mitch in Brisbane (where the squad attended a training camp prior to leaving) and said with Watto (fellow all-rounder Shane Watson) being out there was an opportunity for him to start the series at number three,” said Clarke.
“Obviously we made it clear for him to make the most of that and try and grab it with both hands and I think he's played really well.
“I think he's done that but I've got to obviously select the batting order given the team I'm given as well.
“And the fact the selectors are really keen to see him bowl more overs to see how his bowling goes in this game I don't think it would be fair on him to expect him to open the bowling and bat at number three.
“I think Mitch is full of talent, a lot of potential.
“Over the past few years his performances have improved in the first-class system so he certainly warrants selection in the shorter format and I know he has a very clear goal.
“He wants to play Test cricket.
“There’s stiff competition for the allrounder position with Watto, James Faulkner, and Moises Henriques has played some Test and one-day cricket for us as well.
“And now Mitch Marsh, so that's exciting for us and nice to have some options.
“It’s going to come down to performance - whoever is grabbing their opportunity with both hands and stepping up is going to get to see all formats of the game.”
The fact that Clarke indicated that Marsh might share the new ball with Mitchell Starc in today’s match against struggling Zimbabwe, with the third Mitchell – Johnson – rested for this game indicates the faith the Australian hierarchy have in Marsh’s useful seamers.
Being able to regularly clock speeds around 140kph during the past Australian summer meant the son of former Australian opener Geoff Marsh, and younger brother of Test batsman Shaun, ticks all of the boxes that the team expects of a bowling allrounder.
Not that velocity has been a factor on the pitches such as the to be employed for today’s game, which has been used previously in the tournament and is likely to provide even greater assistance for spinners, and heartache for the seamers.
“He’s bowled really well,” Clarke said when asked how he thought Marsh had adapted to the sluggish pitches at the Harare Sports Club.
“I think conditions are different here, a lot of bowlers haven't got much zip out of the wicket.
“But I think it's good for us to be able to adapt in different conditions and our fields have to be different.
“The used wicket so pitch will be even slower, spin will play a bigger part and for the quicks change of pace will be key.”