Marsh to learn fate on Christmas Day
Mitchell Marsh will be extremely eager to see whether Santa leaves him a present this year, with the all-rounder expecting to wait until Christmas Day before finding out whether he has won a Test recall.
The dumped vice-captain is effectively in a race with Peter Handscomb for the final spot in Australia’s XI for the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG, with national selectors needing to decide whether to persist with the struggling Victorian captain for his home Test, or opt for extra bowling depth at a venue where wickets have been exceptionally hard work in recent times.
Marsh was dropped ahead of the first Test at Adelaide Oval as selectors decided to select six specialist batsmen, and the West Australian has done little since to bang down the door for another opportunity, making 21 and 11 and taking 1-102 in a Sheffield Shield game against Victoria at the MCG, and then departing for three from five balls in the Perth Scorchers’ Big Bash League defeat to the Melbourne Renegades on Thursday night.
Accustomed to being in and out of the Australian team, Marsh said he was trying to control what was in his power ahead of the Test, while acknowledging that the much-discussed MCG pitch could tilt things in his favour.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the wicket comes up. Our Shield game was a little bit drier than what the previous ones were. It’ll be interesting to see which way they go,” Marsh said.
“I’m feeling really good. The way I’m hitting the ball, I’m feel in the nets that I’m hitting the ball really well and I’m ready to go, it’s just about getting an opportunity, and if I do get in, cashing in on a big one. Ultimately I’m still feeling really confident if I get the opportunity.
“I’ve been in and out of the team for years. So you just get used to it. I’ll prepare to the best of my ability, and that’s all I can control.
"Until I get the nod, or don’t get the nod, I’ll just focus on my training and preparing, and that’s it.”
Marsh was afforded a day off in Melbourne on Friday before the 13-man Test squad, which along with the XI of the first two Tests also includes spare paceman Peter Siddle, convenes on Saturday.
The Scorchers skipper said he wouldn’t know until match eve whether he would play in the third Test.
“I’ll find out Christmas Day. So I’ll either be having a coffee or a couple of frothies,” Marsh said.
Marsh said he “wasn’t necessarily surprised” to be have been omitted ahead of the first Test.
“[But] I went in there with the attitude I was going to be playing, so I was disappointed.
"I’ve tried to tell myself that I always had the team first and as disappointed as I was, they felt the six batters was the best option for the team, and my job was to run the drinks.”
Marsh attributed his dismissal on Thursday night to being overly excited about playing.
He went to whack a ball from Jack Wildermuth over the fence but instead skied the Renegades all-rounder to be caught at mid-on by debutant Will Sutherland.
“I was just really amped. That shot early in my innings is not in my game plan, so that’s disappointing, but I absolutely love playing for the Scorchers, and any chance you get is great,” Marsh said.
Marsh also didn’t bowl, as much as he would have liked to.
“I want to be bowling as much as possible,” he said.
“Certainly in this format, to become a really good depth bowler within our white ball cricket we’ve got coming up.
"But ultimately team always comes first, and as skipper we’ve got one of the best bowling attacks in the comp.”
Meanwhile Cameron Bancroft is hanging around the Scorchers’ camp ahead of the end of his ball-tampering ban later this month.
The opener will be free to play in Perth’s game against Hobart on December 30.
“It’s great to have him around the group,” Marsh said.
“He’s champing at the bit to get back, and we’re all champing at the bit to have him back around the squad.”