It’s been subtle. It’s been slow. It’s been quiet. But it’s been effective.
Old Mitch Marsh watchers knew the danger signs when he was picked on the Australia A tour, and in both the red-ball and white-ball squads – despite not deserving selection in either on the basis of his 2018-19 form.
The Marshettes in the media spun it in a low key way – “Gee, it’s been a hard year for him, vice-captain one minute dumped the next. Who would begrudge him an Australian A tour? Poor guy.”
But he got to England.
(AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Ricky Ponting hoped Marsh would make the World Cup squad.
But Marsh was omitted from the squad. He didn’t deserve to be picked, but the Marshettes went on about how he was a shock exclusion.
Marsh was then the beneficiary of a few strokes of luck, as he often is right before an Ashes series. His brother, Shaun, was injured before he had the chance to fail during the tournament.
Absence tends to make the heart grown fonder when it comes to Marshes and Australian selectors.
Secondly, Australia didn’t win the World Cup. We performed better than expected, but it’s a World Cup where semi-final means failure, so it turned out to be a good tournament for Marsh to miss.
Even better for Mitch, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis both underperformed in their games, Stoinis disastrously so. Both were made scapegoats for Australia being booted, with Justin Langer singling them out.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
And boy did the selectors respond? Excluding them for the Ashes trial game. On the basis of their one-day form.
Maxwell is not considered to be among the top 25 cricketers in Australia, all on the basis of a few underwhelming ODIs.
But you know who did make the top 25? Yep. Mitch Marsh.
Mitch Marsh, who’d been the subject of sympathetic articles suggesting that, once again, he’d learnt his lessons and was ready to grow as a cricketer.
Mitch Marsh, who was then the subject of another article suggesting he was ready for Ashes selection on the back of a decent performance in a one-day game.
Mitch Marsh, who has been floated by Justin Langer as a possibility for the team’s all-rounder position even though having an all-rounder didn’t help us in 2015 or 2013 or 2009.
Mitch Marsh, who has now taken five wickets in a first-class game right when he needed to.
I didn’t want to write another Mitch Marsh piece. Truly, I didn’t want to have to go through this again. But this is never going to end.
Ever.
We should just make him captain and be done with it.
Ian
Guest
Who is David Warmers batting coach.. Ash Barty? David Boon used to say you try to hit the wickets then I will hit the ball. England are across the ditch in NZ when are AU playing a tri nation or either side. they are so close and AU needs some competition
ian
Guest
Marsh Sheffield Shield 2019-20. Geoff Marsh surely and now time to dump Warner: David Warner c: Paine b: Rainbird 1
disillusioned
Roar Rookie
At the risk of being a rotten egg victim, I'm putting it out there, I'm disillusioned (and sad) with the state of Australian cricket. Ashes 2019 head line act, 3 proven cheats and now the obligatory (who's your daddy) Marsh. Used to wear crickets integrity as a badge of honour, but no more. Why was Smith banned as captain for only 2 years instead of life? How can a Marsh wear the baggy green with pride? knowing that other deserving players are lucky to get one chance, rather than...dunno, lost count! Are they not embarrassed? The shine has been ripped from Australian cricket and I feel bitter and let down, I miss the joy and pride I previously had and no matter how hard I try, I just cant get the feeling back.
Ben
Guest
Classic from Don 'Past performance doesn't matter' Freo. He's use any sort of non-existent evidence to shoe horn the Marsh boys into his team. Being even more parochial and close minded than Langer is quite the achievement.....
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Amusing read. He has the happy knack of producing what I call 'survival runs'. A number of players over the years have benefited from the same magic. Of course he produced survival wickets, but same concept. Naturally his fans will say that he performed at the time, in the right way; what more do you want? Hey, survival runs - but by taking wickets - maybe he is Australia's allrounder!
anon
Roar Pro
Still picking a 27 year old on potential.
Bob
Guest
Worst performed batsman after 30 tests ever-,yet they still think he is our no 6.
ian
Guest
Selection should not be who is your father or father in law
Mad dog
Guest
Harris Warner Wade Smith Head Maxwell Paine Cummings Starc Abbott Lyon
Jason
Roar Rookie
The Roar's reputation is starting to suffer with the amount of ill informed opinion I have recently been reading in the comment's .
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Beautiful, Redback - vale John Arlott. Surely that is the wittiest piece of cricket commentary ever. Well done.
anon
Roar Pro
He should not be in the squad. He's played 31 Tests and averages 25 with the bat and 44 with that ball. Marsh should only be considered after he puts 2-3 massive Shield summers together. Not one, but back it up like Maxi has done the last two years.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Well played, dunger !
Twilko
Guest
Fair bit of hysteria, as always when it comes to Mitch Marsh... He's been picked in the squad, not in the team. I would have thought it would be slightly irresponsible for selectors not to have a medium-paced all-rounder in the squad? And if that's the case, who else would you pick other than MM? Doubt he'll be playing the first game in any case.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Yep, good call. As would have been Andrew Symonds (smacks forehead).
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
And you are perfectly entitled to hold that opinion. But please tell me why hasn't there been one NSW player to have been on the end of a negative media campaign in the last 40 years? Shirley you don't believe that none have 'deserved' it?
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
None of them are NSW.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Some stand out cricket in this tour selection game and for Australia A. That's why he has been picked.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Not cool having a go at Marsh on his ODI record, it's good and I am sure he would of done better than that plank Stoinis in the WC. He isn't a test top six batsmen though, he plays during the Ashes and Australia are in trouble.
Gee
Roar Rookie
It's not what you know its who you know in cricket selections.