Mitch Marsh yesterday reaped the benefit of some subtle and not-so-subtle changes to his batting technique as he struck a commanding century to put Australia in a dominant position in the third Ashes Test.
In smashing 181 not out in an Australian total of 4-549, Marsh returned to Test cricket with a technique which, as strange as it may sound, was both tighter and looser.
Looser in that the 26-year-old all-rounder was less rigid in his movements. During his previous stints in Test cricket, in which he averaged 21 with the bat from 21 Tests, Marsh had a robotic batting style.
Often he over-committed on the front foot, planting it straight down the pitch before he could reasonably judge whether or not the delivery demanded he play forward or back.
This made him a prime LBW candidate, similar to Shane Watson, who had a similar premeditated plonk of the front foot.
Marsh’s front leg tended to be stiff and straight, meaning that even when the ball was full and there to be driven, he was playing this stroke from an overly upright stance. The best drivers bend at the knee to get their head down closer to the ball, a movement which also helps to play the delivery later.
This is just what Marsh did brilliantly well yesterday as he unfurled an array of sumptuous drives. His striking down the ground was particularly majestic, with Marsh showing great trust in his timing, rather than trying to bludgeon the ball, as he regularly did earlier in his Test career.
At the same time that he’s became looser in his movements, Marsh has tightened his defence. As well as being susceptible to LBWs previously, Marsh also had a tendency to feed the slips cordon, pushing with hard hands at deliveries outside off stump.
(Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)
This was, to an extent, a by-product of his stiff movement – he would plant his foot down the line of the stumps and then reach out at deliveries. The downside of this approach was two-fold – Marsh’s bat was well outside his eyeline, exactly what batsmen seek to avoid in defence, and in the process a yawning gap opened up between his blade and his front pad.
Yesterday that gap was closed thanks to Marsh’s later and more exaggerated feet movement. He would wait an extra fraction of a second before either taking a big stride towards the pitch of the ball, or shuffling well back and across to dead bat it right under his nose.
Within his first half hour at the crease, it was clear Marsh now had far greater trust in his defence. From such trust flows the confidence to attack. The moment the England bowlers overpitched, Marsh punished them, maintaining a very stable posture at the crease as he stroked through the line with a still head.
When they dropped short he was right back in his crease to cut or pull, shots which he seemed to have a huge amount of time to play.
Aside from his technical improvements, the most notable aspect of Marsh’s sublime knock was his patience and maturity. Once he passed 100, Marsh had the England attack cowed on a belter of a pitch. At this stage he must have been tempted to tee off and start clearing the boundary as he does so well in the shorter formats.
But Australia still had a lot of work left to do to put themselves into a winning position, and Marsh clearly recognised this. Even while the TV commentators were encouraging him to cut loose, Marsh remained disciplined, waiting for wayward deliveries, rather than trying to manufacture boundaries.
He was scoring so quickly without risk that there was no need for him to chance his arm.
(Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)
The manner in which Smith desperately protected his wicket, even once he reached 200, underlined Australia’s desire to bat only once. Clearly they want to build a lead well in excess of 200 before sending England back in and aiming for what would be the most demoralising of innings victories.
By stumps yesterday Australia’s lead was 146 thanks to the brilliance of Marsh and bloody-mindedness of Steve Smith, who finished on 229 not out. It’s a measure of how relentlessly and predictably dominant Smith’s become that this story was all about his batting partner.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
"Open your mind or don't comment." That's rich coming rom you.
Don Freo
Guest
That's how many wickets you need to take to dismiss a team twice. The Aussies did that, proving it was not what the cliched crew would call "a road". Gee you lead with your chin.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Don, you don't understand context, even when you set that context. You stated the 6/35 collapse. Where in that context was all 20 English wickets mentioned. You really can be very silly sometimes.
Don Freo
Guest
Surely you are not trying to argue that all 20 English wickets were the result of accident or carelessness...and that Australia surrendered theirs on a handicap concession.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
A careless shot from Malan, a tail afraid of short pitched bowling and Bairstow, running outvof partners again, forcing things. Its easy to explain, Don... if you don't have an agenda to protect. The pitch did however have some pace and bounce which offered more to bowlers than a couple of years ago. Now that WACA pitch was a road...
Perry Bridge
Guest
The pitch got better as the game progressed - and day 3 (as generally should be the case in test cricket) was the best time to bat. M.Marsh was very good - on his home track upon which he's batted very well so far this season. In many respects it was a 'safe bet' for the selectors. It hasn't necessarily answered too many of the many questions around M.Marsh long term. This English attack is somewhat ineffectual in Australian conditions (other than with the pink ball in a D/N test). And on Day 4 he got out for a 2nd ball duck - effectively. I'm not saying that anyone would have done better than him - - what I am suggesting is that more would have been found out had he been batting in the night session vs the pink ball in Adelaide. Thus in that change room at present - can you imagine Pete Handscomb saying "Well done" to M.Marsh but inside being so, so, very dirty on him/the selectors.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
If Mitch Marsh can maintain form and his newfound technique, I'd like to see both him and Maxi in the side at some point. I'm hoping that Maxwell can put away the crap short format shots when he gets his chance again in test cricket and take more of a safety first approach. He's got the shots and the talent if he can get the brains too.
Don Freo
Guest
You haven't quite got a grip on the word, "disingenuous" here. Keep trying. The numbers are pertinent and exactly correct. You can discount whatever doesn't suit you, cross them out and put some 2013 stats in their place. You do that every time when it comes to Marsh. My comment is exactly correct and, of course, includes his ODD stuff. That's the point I am making. That's why I made that point. It is all about form over the season, not one innings. ODD, Shield, Test...he has performed in everything. Open your mind or don't comment.
Don Freo
Guest
Craddock is never worth a look.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Don you really make things up. Over 900 runs? ESPN Cricinfo reveals M Marsh has scored 402 in Sheffield Shield plus 181 for this Test for the 2017-18 season thus M Marsh has scored 583 runs in first class cricket and Tests in 2017-18. It is disingenuous to include his 338 from the domestic one day competition as it is not FC cricket.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
Not test cricket Don. That's the test, to excuse the play on words. He's had a good season in other areas of the game so far but I've seen Finch and Bailey display similarly in Shield and one day level some years and they have a far better overall batting average in all forms of the game at this stage. But they are over 30 and I wouldn't suggest they are test level players despite those occasional outstanding displays. I've always maintained the principle of assessing players performances by age. The difference has always been a special something in Mitch's performances that have to date been only promise. Certainly he's in a golden period at the moment, but that's not why I believed he had something to offer. And of course the big issue will be how this is built on in the next two tests. Does he follow his brother with that big score then half a dozen under 20 that used to be Shaun's efforts, or does he consolidate. As I said I think he's a level better than Shaun, but he's going to now have show it. Hope he does for Australia's sake.
doogs
Guest
fair point. One I can think of who would be a wonderful example would be Matthew Hayden. He was totally out of his depth at his first shot and came back awesome
Sonny
Guest
What are you woffing about doogs, please explain the rudeness aspect of my comment?
Sonny
Guest
Don, I knew you would let that one go through to the keeper! Craddok got a write up on news.com.au, worth a look
doogs
Guest
that's a rude comment Sonny. You sound like you have a lot of bitterness
doogs
Guest
true. Maybe just have no material at all. Rob could leave cricket alone. If he cannot enjoy a batsman scoring 181 not out, maybe it is best for Rob he finds a new hobby. Maybe origami. Something that makes him happy. I'm not sure, but at least something he enjoys
Don Freo
Guest
???
Sonny
Guest
Haha Don, I hear you live in the WA Dressing Sheds! Let's wait for your injections of bias!
Matth
Guest
Jesus, he should have retired then, he would have been a legend.
Brian
Guest
I'd be picking Maxwell over Usman. Khawaja is looking average at the moment, not moving his feet whatsoever, and got extremely lucky in his 50: he should be cashing in at home, because he's abysmal overseas. Marsh batted really well, but he needs to score some consistent runs which he deserves the opportunity to do. His bowling has been rubbish this test.