Mitch ready to face Sri Lanka
MITCHELL Marsh will bat at No.6 for Australia in Saturday’s World Cup fixture against Sri Lanka if Marcus Stoinis fails to recover from a side strain.
Older brother Shaun Marsh revealed Mitch was in the best physical shape of his life as Australian selectors consider pulling their first change to the 15-man World Cup squad.
Stoinis missed last night’s game against Pakistan with a side strain and could be withdrawn from the tournament if he does not heal quickly.
The powerful West Australian and former Victorian allrounder was Australia’s ODI player of the year in 2018, but has struggled in the recent winning run.
In Australia’s past 11 ODIs — of which it won 10 before Sunday’s loss to India — Stoinis averaged just 14.3 runs at a strike rate of 82.7.
In that stretch he bowled 46 overs, returning 8-302 at an economy rate of 6.6.
Marsh’s sudden rebirth at international level has the blessing of assistant coach Ricky Ponting, who has supported the West Australian through his recent demise from Australian cricket.
“There is that danger man, Xfactor about someone like Mitchell Marsh with the way that he can strike the cricket ball, and his bowling is a little bit underrated as well,” Ponting said pretournament.
“They’re the guys that can win you a World Cup.”
Marsh made Australia’s 2015 World Cup squad but played just three games and was overlooked for the final.
He has not played an ODI for Australia since he was caught and bowled by England’s Moeen Ali for just 13 runs almost 18 months ago.
But the all-rounder — who was Test vice-captain just six months ago before falling out of favour in all three formats — is in arguably the best physical shape of his life.
“He’s really fit at the moment,” brother Shaun said in England last month.
“It’s probably the best shape I’ve seen him in.”
Stoinis revealed on Sunday that he had a difficult relationship with Marsh.
“It’s tough, because we get on so well. We’ve known each other since we were 15-16,” Stoinis said. “It’s just one of those things where you know you’re going for the same position in the team. I can’t speak for Mitch, but there’s no room for jealousy because it’s too tiring to live like that.”
Earlier this year, doctors feared that Marsh had ruptured a testicle in a training mishap. But surgery later revealed the Warriors caption had suffered severe bleeding in the area.