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It’s a special time in Mitchell Marsh’s life, playing his debut Test against Pakistan after receiving his baggy green cap from his dad and former Australia vice-captain Geoff Marsh.
Marsh, who also turned 23 last week, joked he was so excited about his Test cap he took it to bed.
“That was pretty special. I’ll never forget that moment,” Marsh told reporters on Monday.
“Dad was a little bit less nervous this time after doing it for (Mitchell’s brother) Shaun.
“It’s a pretty special memory and also to have my mum and my girlfriend and my sister and her fiance out on the ground with me, for Cricket Australia to be able to organise that, it was something they’ll never forget too.
“It was a really special day.
“I kicked Isabelle out of bed and put my baggy green next to me so she wasn’t too happy.”
Following Australia’s 221-run loss in the first Test in Dubai on Sunday, Marsh and his teammates have travelled by bus to the United Arab Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi for Thursday’s second and final Test of the series.
Marsh’s 30 runs and no wickets for the match tell the story of a new boy having minimal impact.
But the youngster, who has already been labelled by Test skipper Michael Clarke as a future captain of the side, feels he was able to at least play a role with the ball.
“It was a tough initiation but it was good fun,” Marsh said.
“The cricket itself was a big step up.
“But I’ve been told by a lot of people that the biggest thing about Test cricket is more just the outside pressures than the pressure of the actual match.
“I would have liked a few more runs and a few more wickets.
“I felt comfortable. It was nice to get off the mark.
“That was the big thing I wanted to do.
“With the ball I did my role. I held up an end while the main bowlers were doing their job.”
Marsh says he’s in regular contact with 31-year-old brother Shaun, who has played nine Tests.
“He has been there so it’s always great to talk to him,” Marsh said.
Marsh says it’s nice to hear that Clarke has described him as a possible future skipper.
“I don’t know about that,” he said.
“There’s plenty of water to go under the bridge before those sorts of things are talked about, especially from my end.
“For me it’s all about trying to nail down a spot in the shorter formats and in this team now.”
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