At an imposing 193 centimetres tall, with a solid frame beyond his years, and all that talent to boot, Mitchell Marsh was seen as a future star from an early age.
Australian cricket’s obsessive search for the next world-class all-rounder has been frustrating, with missed opportunities from both players and selectors alike.
After the disastrous 2015 Ashes campaign saw the retirement of Shane Watson – arguably Australia’s best performing Test all-rounder for some years – Marsh was seen as the next cab off the rank.
Big expectations for a young cricketer to handle.
Marsh’s pedigree is impressive, he is the son and brother of past and current Australian Test cricketers, and was Under-19 Australian World Cup captain. With impressive showings throughout his early days in Western Australian cricket, Marsh’s star began rising at an early age, and an Australian debut seemed inevitable.
But Marsh has struggled to convert his undeniable talent into international consistency.
Though his bowling has drastically improved with every Test (in his 13 Tests he has 21 wickets at 31.61), his batting has left a lot to be desired, and he has become a liability in the pivotal position of No.6. Marsh concluded this summer with a batting average of 24.64, his singular Test half-century a distant memory.
After an impressive showing in his first Test outings, Marsh’s slide into batting mediocrity can be traced back to an underwhelming away Ashes series. With the constant challenge of green, grassy English wickets, the moving ball and consistent pressure from England’s bowlers, Marsh could only contribute scores of 12, 27*, 0, 6, 3 – a run of poor form he has failed to rectify.
However Marsh has endured a frustrating run of late, with a lack of opportunities to spend time at the crease as the Australian top order consistently made scores of note against poor bowling; hardly an ideal situation for a player attempting to fix his flaws and silence his critics.
Marsh has been selected as the sole all-rounder in Australia’s Test squad for their away tour of New Zealand, where his technique and resolve will once again be tested on green, seaming pitches.
One hopes Marsh can fight his way out of his batting rut, tighten his technique, and evolve into the Test batsman Australian cricket has been yearning for in the pivotal all-rounder’s position.
Dracula
Guest
I take your point. I actually think Mitchell Marsh will elevate his batting average if given enough opportunities over time.
Don Freo
Guest
It would be silly to establish a criterion and then look for the players. You have the players...15 to 25 of them...and pick the best side. Mitch Marsh is in that best side.
Dracula
Guest
I like the idea of picking two All Rounders - at 6 and 8. No. 6 (Batting All Rounder) must be as good with the bat as the No. 4 & 5 batsman and should average 40+ with the bat. He is a 5th bowling option and not expected to bowl long spells. His bowling average should be less than his batting average. No. 8 (Bowling All Rounder) part of the bowling-quartet (along with 9, 10 & 11). He is an 8th batsman, and his bowling and batting averages should be around 25. Not sure where Mitchell Marsh fits in right now.
Don Freo
Guest
He had great scores outside of Australia on the last 3 tours. Those bowlers get great averages because they get lots of not outs when the innings closes. Bat them where Marsh bsts and you'd be calling for blood. One day you guys will work out how that works.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I rate Mitch Marsh very highly......AS A BOWLER. I would like to see selectors look at him as a genuine bowler. He should be playing Test Cricket as a bowler in Front of guys like Scott Boland, Peter Siddle etc. However I don't believe Mitchell Marsh is good enough to hold down the number 6 or 7 spot in any conditions outside of Australia. He averages less in Test Cricket with bat then all of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson.
Don Freo
Guest
What are you looking at to cause you to praise Faulkner's batting? In what way is he bowling better than Marsh?
Tom
Guest
Obviously needs to go. Just not good enough at this stage. Our bowlers are all better at batting than him. To me it's clear that we should bring in either Faulkner or maxwell. Faulkner is clearly better at batting than our bowlers, and maxwell is clearly better at bowling than our batsmen. But maxwell should be judged on his batting alone, and Faulkner his bowling.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Marsh just needs some confidence with the bat, and a good coach. A blind man could see the problems he was having last night - too many ungainly cross bat swipes, every time I have seen Marsh hitting the cleanest, biggest sixes it's always been with a straight bat and he carries long on or long off with ease. So that needs to be addressed as part of his review and net work. While we are winning we can afford to carry Marsh with the bat, he offers plenty with the ball and can hold down a spot with that alone. Have patience people. He will be a good 'un.
Another Pom in Oz
Guest
Mark Taylor is not right. That happens sometimes...
Bovs
Guest
Tip off - the captain, the selectors and the bowlers all want a fifth bowler.
Don Freo
Guest
Agreeing, instead with a better Australian captain, Mark Taylor.
VivGilchrist
Guest
Are you disagreeing with a former Australian captain? I remember someone criticising me for having a different view to Shane Warne. When it suits, hey Don?
Don Freo
Guest
Your dad is not right.
Don Freo
Guest
Chappell is not right. That happens sometimes.
James T
Guest
Marsh is a quality fifth bowler but a test batsman he ain't. Marshs problem seems to be his first instinct is to hit the ball and hit it a long way, that doesn't work when you're 4/50. Personally I have trouble seeing we need a fifth bowler when the last 3 times the pitch has had a little our batsman have contributed very little. In Aus I'm happy for marsh to play as our pitches are becoming so flat. Outside Aus I'd go with stoinis, technique and temperament plus economical bowler. Depends if you want a fifth bowler or sixth batsman.
Riley Krause
Roar Rookie
I can't remember who said it, hell it might have been my dad, but to this day I believe it to be true. If you're in the team as an all-rounder, you should be able to solidify a position by just doing one thing (be it batting or bowling). Not to say if you bat six you are the sixth best batsmen in the country, but if you were injured and couldn't bowl, you're presence in the team wouldn't shock people. Saying this, I like Marsh, I think he has grown as a bowler and given time and chances he will become a bowling first Andrew Symonds .
Bovs
Guest
"Did we have a specialist all rounder during the Warne/McGrath/Dizzy era?" No... we didn't need one... we had two once-in-a-lifetime bowlers in McGrath and Warne. Yes... I know that if there were 2 in a team they can't be once-in-a-lifetime. That's how freakish it was to have both of them. When we had those two, we didn't NEED a fifth bowler. Picking someone like Symonds or relying on the part-time bowling of Ponting, Bevan, Martyn, Hussey or Blewett was always sufficient. But now we don't have guys who can dominate in that way. We have four good bowlers, not two very good and two all-time greats. The guys we have now need support. That is why you need a fifth bowler who can contribute at least 15-20 overs and take a wicket or two in bowling them. And your point that all the great all-rounders were primarily front-line bowlers who developed into batters capable of batting at 6-7 is exactly why rather than expecting Marsh to bat in the top 6 and just bowl a bit here and there, it's actually more important that he bowls effectively and can occasionally contribute with the bat. The all-rounder is and should be the fifth bowler in preference to being the sixth batsman.
VivGilchrist
Guest
He looks like he needs to go back to domestic cricket to find some touch. Looks out of sorts with the bat at the moment.
Another Pom in Oz
Guest
Jaques Kallis...
Bugs
Guest
Yes! Hear! Hear! A wise investment for the future.