Mitchell Marsh has had to suffer through the most oppressive conditions he’d ever faced in Rajkot’s stifling heat while stroking a wonderful 96 in Australia’s drought-breaking 66-run win over India in the third one-day international.
Unable to take the field due to the heat exhaustion and full-body cramps he endured while batting in mid-afternoon on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), Marsh had to shelve plans for his bowling return but was able to enjoy Glenn Maxwell making a sensational return from injury to spin India out for 286 in reply to Australia’s massive 7-352.
The victory at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium snapped Australia’s five-match losing streak and gave their World Cup preparations a much-needed boost while denying India a 3-0 series sweep.
Marsh and Steve Smith (74) batted superbly despite both suffering physically in the extreme conditions.
Marsh, who hasn’t bowled since this year’s Ashes due to ankle soreness, required water to be brought out every over towards the end of his gutsy knock, which ended when he bunted a Kuldeep Yadav wrong ‘un to Prasidh Krishna at cover.
As Marsh walked slowly off the ground, a weary Smith was guzzling drinks while sporting ice packs on his head and the back of his neck, sitting in a plastic chair brought out to the middle.
“It was as tough and as hot as I’ve ever batted in,” Marsh admitted.
“When I came off I was absolutely exhausted and had full body cramps.
“I wanted to bowl. I bowled a couple of practice balls and had cramp all the way up my legs.
“With what’s to come, the staff said to cool my jets for the fielding innings, which I’m very appreciative of.”
David Warner (56) fell in the 50s for the third time in as many hits, before Marnus Labuschagne (72) bolstered his chances of earning a last-minute World Cup call-up.
Mitchell Marsh. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
India’s returning kingpins Rohit Sharma (81) and Virat Kohli (56) looked in imperious touch in the chase before both fell to Maxwell.
Rohit crunched a bullet back to Maxwell, who shut his eyes, stuck out his right hand and remained in a state of disbelief when the catch somehow stuck.
Maxwell, who dismissed makeshift opener Washington Sundar (18) in his first over, continued his dream second spell when the great Kohli top-edged a pull to Smith before ending India’s hopes when he bowled Shreyas Iyer (48).
Back after missing more than six months of international cricket due to a flare-up with his previously-broken leg and the birth of his son, Maxwell looms as one of Australia’s World Cup gamebreakers, for his explosive batting and his underrated spin bowling in subcontinent conditions.
“For ‘Maxy’ to come back after not playing much cricket over the last months, it was great to see him back,” Marsh said.
“We obviously know his batting is absolute class but what he can do with the ball and the option that he’ll give us with our allrounders is vital to us going deep into the World Cup.”
sedz
Roar Rookie
As a cricket fan, I do not want to see a score beyond 350 in an ODI. I think either the ground rope has to be extended or make the pitch such way that a score beyond that is not achievable. Neither do we need a slug fest not a bore fest.
sedz
Roar Rookie
Maxi is much needed for his all round skills. Imagine facing a SL team in Semi Finals where the pitch takes turn. Some one like Maxie can be a benefit. Having said that this is going to be an open WC. There are stadiums which are flat roads (England will love them), there are stadiums which offers more for pacers/or some thing for pacers in the first 15 overs , there are stadiums which offers turn (not just India but also SL and Pak will love them), combination of some of them which offers good bowling conditions yet smaller grounds and so on.
sedz
Roar Rookie
To be honest, its tough to beat India in any of the league stage (even if it's played outside India). But cometh the Semi Finals and Finals, India will be under more pressure than any other team. So a leadership is very important and India do not have now. So any of big 3 can win if not SL or Pak/SA have a good chance too. India are the new chokers (and it won't go off any time easily). They will easily reach SF anyway and let us see how it goes from there.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I didn't read it. Was it anything to do with cricket?
Tom
Why have you ignored the rest of what I said? The facts hurt? Come on Don, you can’t make a claim saying Hardie would out play Marnus over the course of a series and then back it up with absolutely nothing to suggest he could when someone suggests otherwise. Or have you conceded that was a silly thing to say? We all say silly things. I like Hardie and think he is one to look out for in the future but he is no Marnus, the proof is in the pudding.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you’re into maths, fine, but don’t expect a cricket fan to ignore cricket for that conversation.
Tom
Ignoring stats in cricket is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Since we are discussing one day cricket I would love to look back on Hardie’s last season of Marsh one day cricket. Are you talking about the Marsh One Day Cup tournament where he batted 5 times and made a top score of 23no averaging 19? Enlighten me on what it was about those performances that make you so insistent that Hardie would out perform Marnus across a series of international cricket? I watch plenty of cricket with an open mind and not one that is entirely blinded by bias and the Western Australia victim complex that you consistently show through your comments, but statistics have and will always be used in cricket to give us a good guide on how well a player is playing or will potentially go on to play at the next level. Ditch the bias and victim complex and people on here might take you more seriously and be open to engaging in a proper conversation. I’ll even predict your next move that you are going to bring up Hardie’s big bash performances to try and shut me down, shame T20 form matters little in a discussion about 50 over cricket. Hardie has shown absolutely nothing in 50 over cricket so far.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you can partially read stats sheets, you're ready for your next big challenge. Watching cricket is not hard but it is best appreciated by knowing about cricket. Have a look at Hardie's last season, you'll understand.
Tom
Yes, picking a player with 2 List A matches under his belt averaging 22 with the bat and 36 with the ball would certainly be left field. And moronic.
Tom
Don is a Western Australian with a perpetual victim complex, there is no point trying to have an adult conversation with him when he feels like his precious WA bois have been wronged. He's a child.
Tom
Marnus currently has the same strike rate as Aaron Finch’s career strike rate. The myth that seems to be getting put around everywhere that he is a slug is incredibly wrong. He made 125 off less than a hundred a matter off weeks ago and 72 off 50 odd last night. 50% strike rate? Lol what a load of rubbish
Tom
Based on what Don? Hardie has a List A average of 22 lol. Try to be impartial for once. Marnus and Hardie aren’t even competing for the same spot, and if they were Marnus is evidently way better.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'll bet they now realise how good Langer was. McDonald offers nothing and Cummins is lost.
jammel
Roar Rookie
We don't need 15 off 28 in the top four BigGordon. I love Marnus. We need more batting in this team for sure, so I like him in the squad. But he needs to push harder, earlier. He's shown he can do that, which is good. But the days of 50% strike rates are over. Especially in this world cup!
jammel
Roar Rookie
The anchor in this team is Smithie. I feel we need more batting in the XI. So I don't mind Marnus in the top four. But he needs to push harder, earlier.
Vamsi K
Roar Rookie
In an ideal world, this tournament would be played in the Indian “winter”, ie perhaps in February, I was replying to the above. Indian winter is primarily from Nov to Feb but the peak months are Dec and Jan. And the orginial schedule was changed to Oct - Nov because of Covid disruption for qualifiers. This was done way back in June 2020. 2011 WC was played in Feb - Apr even when IPL was there. IPL started after the WC. If you still want to continue with your beliefs its up to you.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
We're not going to win games by making massive totals or chasing down huge scores, like England or India. We're going to win because we can keep teams down to about 300 or less and then make those inside 50 overs. Smith & Marnus both have huge roles to play in this scenario because one or the other needs to bat for a lot of overs in every game. If they do, we win, if they don't, we probably lose. It's as simple as that.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Do agree with the thought re Marnus being an anchor to build a score on. Always have thought that one end needs to be secure .
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Again, it depends on conditions. 15no (28) could be exactly what's required if he comes in and the teams 2 for not many. He'd then be expected to rebuild the innings and likely bat through. In most games though, he needs to be going at close to a run a ball from very early on, then up the tempo as he gets set.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I doubt that... remember the 'coup' was to get rid of Langer, not make Cummins captain (he was already captain...)