Mitch Marsh emerges as Australia’s biggest ODI World Cup weapon — why he should only bat

Mitch Marsh missed most of the home summer, inlcluding the BBL title charge by his Perth Scorchers, after having surgery to prolong a career interrupted by injury.

The star all-rounder hasn’t yet begun bowling again and Australian selectors could do worse than telling him to keep it that way to preserve the body of his team’s biggest World Cup weapon.

Having been man of the final in Australia’s T20 World Cup win in 2021, Marsh was the key in a stunning ODI series win in India which provided a perfect blueprint for the World Cup being staged in the sub-continent later this year.

While spin twins Adam Zampa (4-41) and Ashton Agar (2-45) took six wickets between them to halt what appeared an Indian charge to victory in the series-decider in Chennai, it was Marsh who set up the match.

Opening the batting in all three games, including the third despite the return of David Warner who batted down the order, Marsh got Australia off to a flyer with some bludgeoning boundaries.

He and Travis Head put on 68 for the first wicket, with Head out first before Marsh followed having struck eight boundaries and a six in his innings of 47.

It took Marsh’s series tally to 194 runs, at an average of 97, with a mammoth 24 fours and 12 sixes. For context, none of his teammates score more than 100 runs in the series, and the rest of the team combined hit just eight sixes.

Marsh was named man of the series and conceded batting without bowling was “easier on the body”. But he won’t put that part of his game away, knowing how dangerous a team full of all-rounder can be in a World Cup in India.

“It’s fantastic (to bat without bowling). It’s certainly a lot easier on the body and I was a lot fresher when I was batting,” he said after the victory.

“But I love bowling and I love the fact we have all-rounders in our squad, it gives our captain a lot of options.

“Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) had to bowl 10 overs and I felt bad for him ... it’s a long time since he’s had to to do that.

“It’s also about being there for my mates and making sure I give the skipper as many options as I can. Hopefully the bowling is not too far away.”

Marsh was full of praise for Agar who fellow spinner Adam Zampa said “won us the game” when he dismissed Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession when India was 4-185 chasing just 269 for victory.

Agar was missing the Sheffield Shield final to be in India and hadn’t played until game three, having missed the Big Bash final to prepare for a Test tour he never got to play in.

“It certainly been an indifferent six week period for him,” Marsh said.

“He’s one of my closest mates and one of the most resilient characters I know and that’s what he’s able to come in and perform whenever he plays for Australia.

“One of his strengths is his ability to be present when he’s playing and compete. I think it’s a testament to the group we have guys like him who just want to play for Australia.”

Having lost the opening match of the series, the Aussies won matches two and three to make a World Cup statement having used players including Nathan Ellis and Sean Abbott in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Marsh also said he loved the opportunity to open but knows it may not be permanent as Australia plots its part to the World Cup.

“We spoke about, before the first game, this is really the start of our campaign for the World Cup and different guys will bat in different positions at times,” he said.

“It’s really important we have a squad mentality. Davey (Warner) has been an incredible player for Australia for a long time ... I’m sure he’ll slot back in at some stage. It’s really important we are all flexible.

“I think in World Cup years it can be very easy to look too far ahead. But we really wanted to be focussed on this series, and it’s a great achievement to beat the No.1 team in their own backyard.

“It doesn’t happen every day you win here so very proud of the lads. It’s the first step towards our World Cup.”