Markram, ‘idiot’ Marsh pay for punch gone wrong
The moral of this story is simple—don’t punch stuff in frustration; it might hit back harder. In two separate incidents in different corners of the world, batsmen have been forced to miss out on Test cricket after venting frustration the wrong way. Down 0-2 in a three-match Test series in India, South Africa haven’t had a worse rubber in many years now.
And now they will be missing opener Aiden Markram for the Ranchi Test, beginning Saturday, due to an injury sustained after ‘he lashed out a solid object’.
Markram has endured a frustrating series, scoring five and 39 in the series opener in Vizag and a pair in Pune. His struggles at the top of the order mirror the batting frailties of a South African side staring at the prospect of a series whitewash in Ranchi. “The injury took place following the opener’s dismissal in the second innings of the match,” Cricket South Africa (CSA) said in a statement. “In a moment of frustration with his own performance, he lashed out at a solid object, resulting in his injury.”
The CSA did not specify what the “solid object” was. It added that Markram had left for home and no replacement has been called. Markram admitted emotions had got the better of him but said that was no excuse. “It’s sad to be going home on this note and I completely understand what I’ve done wrong and take full accountability for it,” the 25-year-old said in the statement.
“It’s unacceptable in a Proteas environment and to let the team down is what hurts me the most. I’ve learned a lot from this and the other players I’m sure, have learned from it as well. We understand in sport that emotions run high and sometimes the frustration gets the better of you as it did for me, but like I said, it’s no excuse. I’ve taken full responsibility for it, I have apologised to the team and hopefully I can make it up to them and the people of South Africa soon.”
Speaking of emotions running high, Mitchell Marsh would be cursing his luck after he broke his hand punching a dressing-room wall in frustration during a Sheffield Shield match. That not only means he could be miss the opening Test against Pakistan in Brisbane, starting on November 21, but also be sidelined for six weeks.
An understandably dumbfounded Australia coach Justin Langer apparently branded him “an idiot” when he learnt of the incident. Marsh, the captain of Western Australia, took his frustration out in the changing rooms after he was dismissed for 53 in a Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania on Sunday. Scans revealed a fracture. “It’s my middle finger, just below the wrist—a fracture straight through the bone,” Marsh, who was sporting a cast on his arm, told reporters.
Asked if he had spoken to Langer, Marsh replied: “He just told me I’m an idiot basically.” Marsh had only been recalled to the Test side for the final game of the Ashes against England last month after a long period out of favour and there are no guarantees he will win a spot back.
“It’s a good lesson for me. Hopefully it’s a good lesson for other people as well,” added Marsh, whose blunder could open the door for Marcus Stoinis in Brisbane. “At the end of the day, it’s a game of cricket. Sometimes you get beaten, sometimes you get out, and you can’t be punching walls.”