Mitchell Marsh has represented Australia in all three formats on multiple occasions and has even been the vice-captain of the Test team.
However, his career has been full of controversy, as well as many a twist and turn.
Making his Western Australia debut at age 17, there were already suggestions his father, Geoff Marsh, and older brother, Shaun Marsh – both Australian representatives – were the reason he made his debut at such a young age.
These assumptions have followed Mitch all through his journey – even now, after he has played 32 Tests, 53 ODIs and 11 T20s for his country.
An all-rounder, Mitch’s batting peak was in the 2017 Ashes series in Australia. Brought into the squad from the third Test on, he scored 181, 9, 28* and 101.
Following that series, Mitch’s 2018 contained seven Tests – against South Africa, Pakistan and India – batting at average of 21.73 and bowling 58.50.
Mitch was not selected for the 2019 ODI World Cup in the UK and instead participated in the Australia A tour of the UK, playing in four one-day matches against various county sides, scoring 126 runs without being dismissed. With the ball, he averaged 31.4.
Once the World Cup ended, Australia’s best Test cricketers competed in a three-day intra-squad match. In the first innings, Mitch got figures of 1-13 bowling and 29 runs batting. In the second innings, he took 5-34 and scored 23 runs.
As a result, he was picked in the fifth Test of the Ashes. His two knocks resulted in 17 and 24, but it was bowling that stood out, taking career-best numbers of 5-46 in the first innings and 2-40 in the second.
Yet this was the only time he has represented Australia in any of the three formats in 2019.
Mitchell Marsh celebrates taking a wicket. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Domestically, Mitch became captain of both Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers BBL sides in 2017, although he has often missed games due to international duty.
However, in the 2018-19 BBL season, he played seven matches for a top score of 50* and an average of 24.4 with the bat.
Mitch has made played three One Day Cup games and one Sheffield Shield match in the 2019-20 season, batting at an average of 34.5 and bowling at 54.00.
His best match so far was a Shield match against Tasmania, where he picked up scores of 41 and 53. However, when he got dismissed in the second knock, he punched a changeroom wall in frustration and fractured his wrist, which led to him missing important fixtures such as the One Day Cup final and the Australia A versus Pakistan tour match.
As a result, he was no hope for either Test against Pakistan, nor the first Test against New Zealand – and he has admitted “my wrist will never be 100 per cent”.
He has had a complicated career but, as he is only 28, the best years years of the talented all-rounder’s career may yet lay ahead for Mitchell Marsh.
anon
Roar Pro
Agreed.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Why is it that "match winners" are somehow expected to win every match? The man is very clearly talented. But a man nonetheless. Enjoy the triumphs, learn from the tragedies. It's called life.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
He has copped a lot of criticism on social media in Aus last 12 months or so in particular , that's for sure. Looking on from South Africa I never understood that.... A class all-rounder and right now Stokes aside they are a pretty rare breed.
Graeme Smith
Roar Rookie
With Lyon, plus La Bousch and Smith as potential rest bowlers, it’s hard to make a place for a bowling all rounder, such as Mitch Marsh. Ironically, Smith’s concussion, and Labuschagnes replacement, pretty much ended his international career.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I think the criticism of Marsh is that while what you say above should be the case, all he requires is two shield tons in the last few months, no matter how streaky or how many chances he gives away, and a flat looking MCG/SCG and he would be straight back into the side.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
That 17 Ashes series really annoyed me. He was dropped from the previous Indian tour because of poor form. Asked to go back to the shield and force his way back in. He was replaced by Maxwell in the side who scored a really superb and gritty test ton in India. Gets dropped after/during the Bangladesh 2 match series that followed and it was Marsh who came back into the side on absolute roads not Maxwell. Of course he scores two tons and get another run of matches while Maxwell doesn’t see his baggy green again. No wonder the bloke has mental health issues.
HR
Roar Rookie
Marsh always seemed a better fit in the ODI team, and it seems like this is how he should have been used, even leading up and into the World Cup (he would have been a better choice than the woefully out of form Stoinis in that semi final). It seems like the national selectors have always seen so much possibility that they've selected him for test duty when he hasn't quite been ready, and he's either carrying the drinks or just getting by. If he was left out of test consideration until he had a very good shield run, and used in ODIs, I think he would progress further than he has so far - you don't get much experience when you're the 12th half the time.
U
Roar Rookie
He’s a potential Aussie captain in limited overs cricket.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, Mitch has been nowhere near good enough. Only 5 scores of 50 or more in 55 test innings when batting is what you are primarily in the team for is nowhere near good enough. People were constantly on Shane Watson's case and his test record looks golden compared to Marsh! Marsh could well get back into the ODI side, as he's been a very good ODI cricketer when at his best. For tests I would say to stick with the guys we've got, with Labushagne and Head able to bowl some overs when needed, and if someone like Green does fulfill the potential so many see in him to become that awesome allrounder, then bring him in. But I still think he's probably 2 years away.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Green is only 20 and still coming through that period where his body can't quite hold up to the bowling. Hopefully he gets through that and develops into the allrounder he looks like he could. Lets put it this way, he has already been selected in Shield cricket purely as a bowler, and selected in Shield cricket purely as a top-6 batsman. That seems like a very possible tick in the category of a player who could get selected for either discipline. I do feel that for Marsh to have another chance at test level, he would need a good 2 years of working incredibly hard on his batting. And by then Green may well be enough of the finished product to be a quality test allrounder and Marsh won't come anywhere near it. Marsh at his best was a very good ODI cricketer though. At one point he would have been one of the first names on the team sheet for Australia in ODI's. I think he can definitely get back to that. But I don't think he'll ever be a test quality allrounder.
anon
Roar Pro
We're still talking about picking a 28 year old veteran of 32 Tests on potential. Meanwhile, people were starting to ramp up the pressure on Joe Burns before the last Test because he had a couple of lean innings. The pressure has been ramped up on Head for some soft dismissals despite a strong 40+ average. People can't wait to stick their boot in a guy like Khawaja despite a 40+ average over a long sample size. Look at Maxwell. Dumped from the ODI squad despite (off the top of my head) averaging 33 at a about 133 strike rate in 2019. Been pretty handy as a bowler in ODI cricket lately as well.
anon
Roar Pro
Marsh maybe needs to train smarter.
anon
Roar Pro
So what about Marsh's 5 for. Starc was dropped after getting 10 wickets against Sri Lanka. Starc with the bat averages TWO LESS RUNS than Marsh. Let Marsh put together a 2-3 big Shield seasons and then he can come into consideration.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yeah. Built like a wall I hear.
matth
Roar Guru
I agree with others here that Marsh should be a back up at best for the test squad. Time to look at others unless he puts together a 1,000 run season down the track. However he is still a very good option in the 50 over game and always has been. At this point I’d prefer to go back to him before Stoinis, as his bowling is as good if not better, and he’s better suited than Stoinis to the 5 or 6 position in the batting order.
matth
Roar Guru
You should see the other guy!
Keeper
Guest
Just how screwed is his wrist if even he says it won't ever be 100 percent.
Graham
Roar Rookie
I am not even convinced that Mitch Marsh is the best allrounder in his own shield team. I would rather see a newcomer like Cameroon Green given a go. I actually think Marsh is better suited to the shorter form of the game. His ODI record of 1428 runs at 35.7 and 44 wickets at 35 are better than his test record.
Paul
Roar Guru
It would be wrong to completely "out" Marsh from international consideration. He's clearly a talented player, but whether that talent can translate into success and in which form of the game, remains to be seen. This guy took a 5 for at Test level last time he played so isn't a mug. That said, I believe his best format is probably one dayers, followed by T20's and Tests a very distant third. He could for example be a very good player in India in 2023. The selectors though need to be very clear about why he's being selected, assuming he gets a run in Australian colours in the future. Too often they've left themselves open to criticism because Marsh's performances have been underwhelming, yet he's been chosen. Marsh could solve all these problems by making a stack of runs or taking a lot of wickets. It's hard to criticise a bloke in form.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
It’s possible, but he really has to kill it with the bat in the Shield to be considered again for Tests, especially outside Australia. The only reason you need that kind of all rounder is to hold up an end if the frontline bowlers need a rest, hopefully a bit like de Grandhomme. A wicket is a bonus. But you can’t afford to sacrifice batting to do it. Otherwise just throw the ball to Marnus and Head.