Defiant Marsh Is Still On The March

Adam Collins catches up with Mitch Marsh, who still believes he has a part to play in Australia’s Ashes campaign despite losing the faith of the selectors

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In the corresponding stage of the series when the Ashes were last contested, there was one name on the mind of every Australian cricket fan.

Sure, Steve Smith was breaking records but everyone was conditioned to that by then. Rather, it was Mitch Marsh. Coming in for that third Test at the WACA, having earned his way back to the Test team as captain of his state, the all-rounder saluted for his first Test ton on his home ground.

It was a beauty, hammering England to all parts – the Ashes retained. He did it again in Sydney four weeks later.

A lot happened in the six months that followed. Well, South Africa happened. Cape Town happened. Marsh started that series much as he finished at home, his contribution with the bat a defining one at Durban before the wheels fell off for all. In the aftermath of the sandpaper nightmare, he was the obvious man to elevate to the vice-captaincy when six months on from that Australia played their next series against Pakistan last October.

Then it all came crashing down. Bereft of runs and form, he was dumped before the home summer. Returning for one Test on Boxing Day, he was boorishly booed by the Melbourne crowd. Life had moved fast.