Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - If I play, I'll be listed at number 3 - Mitchell Marsh. Mitchell Marsh has batted at No 3 in Australia's recent tours
Mitchell Marsh has batted at No 3 in Australia's recent tours
Mitchell Marsh, the Australian all-rounder, believes he will retain the number three spot in the Australian XI for the upcoming T20 WC. Marsh was Australia's number 3 in the recent tours to West Indies and Bangladesh in the absence of regular stars David Warner, Steve Smith, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.
He found success in his time at number 3, scoring 375 runs in ten games, including four fifties, and is in a rich vein of form coming into the showpiece event having scored a century from the same spot for Western Australia in the Marsh Cup. However, the move to continue backing him will push Smith down the order.
“I daresay that if I play in this tournament, I'll be listed at number three,” Marsh said. “But I think the beauty of our squad is that, from three to six or even seven, all of us can float and it will just be a matter of game situation and who we think is best to go in next. I think I'll be at the top if I do play, but it's about being adaptable and being able to float with the guys that we've got coming after me.”
With the surfaces set to be on the slower side in the tournament bringing spin into play, the 29-year-old has been working on his game to tackle tweakers and had recently sought the help of team-mate Adam Zampa. “I just asked him where he would bowl to me to try and stop me from scoring,” Marsh noted. “I've worked really hard on my game against spin, probably more so around the rotation of strike and making sure that I'm getting off strike through those middle overs in white-ball cricket. Then the extension of that was trying to make sure I have plenty of boundary options
“I've watched guys like Marcus Stoinis who use the crease unbelievably well. Getting back and hitting guys over deep midwicket off the back foot for six and I think when you start playing shots like that, then you get more balls in your area to look down the ground. In these conditions we know we're going to get a lot of spin.”
Marsh also believes a strong showing in the T20 WC can help him fetch a spot in the Test side as well with Australia set to lock horns with England at home for the Ashes. His most recent appearance in the format came in 2019.
“I'd love to play Test cricket again for Australia at some point,” he admitted. “I'm not going to have a lot of red-ball cricket to put my name up there for selection, but like many before me, if I can perform in white ball then you're still in the selectors' eyes. But first things first is to be part of this World Cup, which is going to be very exciting.”
