Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh says he’s playing for the team, not his average, as he prepares for a career-defining Test match.
Marsh’s spot in the Australian side is in jeopardy amid a scoring drought that has returned only 85 runs at an average of 12 in five Tests this year.
The allrounder has been put on notice by coach Darren Lehmann that he needs to score runs in the third Test against New Zealand starting Friday in Adelaide.
But Marsh says despite his personal woes, he’ll continue to bat for the team cause and not himself.
“I always try and play for the team and put the team first,” Marsh said on Wednesday.
“There is plenty of talk about your average and all that sort of stuff.
“But at the end of the day I know that if I get an opportunity, I feel like I’m hitting the ball really well in the nets – I just need to take that out into the middle and put some big runs on the board.
“Obviously I would like a few more runs but at the same time I always put the team first. And when we’re making 500 it’s quite irrelevant.”
Marsh has made just 37 runs in three innings this series and has an average of 24.78 in his nine-Test career – only passing 50 once.
“I have come in in some situations to get as many (quick) runs as we can,” he said.
“And I don’t want to play the game in a selfish manner and worry about my average or anything like that, I just want to play for the team.
“But in saying that, playing at the highest level you’re always going to be under pressure to score runs and that comes with the territory of playing cricket for Australia.
“That is something you have got to deal with as an international cricketer.”
Marsh and his brother Shaun, recalled to the Australian team for the third Test, were ignoring external criticism about their selections.
“Shaun has got a great opportunity now,” he said.
“He has been in and out of the Test team, there’s no denying that, but I think he’s in great form, he has obviously matured a lot over the last few years as a batsman.
“He’s batting as well as he ever has and I’m sure he’s going to take this opportunity. He has worked extremely hard to get where he is now so hopefully he gets a good run at it.”
The Marsh brothers have played one Test together – against India in Brisbane last December, when Mitchell injured a hamstring on day one.
JohnB
Guest
James Hopes is, and has done for several seasons. But of course he won't be picked for age reasons and fair enough. Marsh has done enough with the ball to warrant continuing to give him a go, but he is simply not that far ahead of Faulkner and Maxwell that he can continue to not produce with the bat. Yes, he's not had a lot of opportunities with the bat since his first 4 tests, and yes he has got out once or twice swinging the bat in his last 5 tests. But there have been times in those last 5 tests when he has had a chance to bat without having to immediately start scoring, and he hasn't been able to. Too early to say he can't produce, but promise should only keep you there so long.
Don Freo
Guest
His spot is nowhere near threatened. No other all rounder is performing better.
Don Freo
Guest
Has he done that..."everytime", Chris?
Don Freo
Guest
Stats people only remember stats. Cricket followers know what's happening.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Where did I say that he should be dropped? Read my last paragraph. I specified that it's reasonable to cut him some slack and give him some time to develop. Just don't excuse getting out for single figures as playing for the team. Getting out cheaply whenever the team are after quick runs isn't helping the team. Happy for him to use the excuse that he's still young in his test career and has plenty of improvement in him and hopefully given some chances over the summer he'll start making runs, that it's hard coming in when the team want quick runs and he hasn't handled those situations that well to this point, but he's still learning and he'll take those lessons and try to keep improving. The main reason I don't like the "I'm playing for the team not being selfish" excuse is that it suggests that he's done exactly what he should have done and there's no need to look over those as failures and learn from them.
The Bush
Roar Guru
At least let the kid finish the summer. If he's struggled the entire summer, then we can reevaluate, but why put pressure on him so soon. We gave Watson 10 years based on potential, lets try a summer for this guy. At least he's remained injury free so far (*touches all the wood in the office*).
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I get that Marsh hasn't had a lot of good opportunities to bat in this series. But if you get out cheaply every time your team is after quick runs then you aren't exactly doing much good for them either. If you need to tone it down a little in order to actually score runs rather than just get out for nothing, then you are better off doing that. It's always funny how people sometimes score lots of runs, benefiting the team enormously only to get called selfish, while other players fail time after time, not being a lot of help for the team, and the excuse is they are being a team player. Marsh is young, he's got some development to do before he can be considered a test quality batsman, and he may well get there, and it's reasonable to cut him some slack and give him a chance to develop and get good, but I've never been a fan of equating poor performance with being a team player.
dave
Guest
Yeah i actually think the aussies should have forgotten about a result at the waca and tried to get 1000 runs on the board,just to make history. The draw would be forgotten but the 1000 runs would be remembered.
dave
Guest
give the guy a break. He's young and i hope it doesn't happen but sooner or later their will be a massive top order collapse and it will be up to him to save the innings,can judge him after this.
JohnB
Guest
Yes, that was an unfortunate slip up. You'd think their cliché coach would be telling them that's one to avoid. Batting wise, a failure such as the one he had in Brisbane was absolutely fine and should never be held against anyone. Perth, a bit less so. Played pretty carefully in the first innings and didn't do much beyond helping NZ slow the game right down on day 2 after having been smashed on day 1, then failed without an excuse I could see when the game was possibly still on in the second.
GD66
Guest
B-but he's hitting them well in the nets.... Now all he has to do is be in a good place and he's laughing. A few more runs would be good, and probably well-advised, but as a bowler he's been pretty good and worth persevering with.
danno
Guest
Until you have made the spot yours, you can bat with more freedom. You have to be slightly selfish as a newcomer and bat for longer periods to ensure you get a few good scores and don't get dropped. People only remember the stats at the end of the day.
Andy
Guest
Damn he must hate the Australian team then