Marsh happy how new faces are shining for Australia
Mitch Marsh is buoyant about Australia’s white-ball future after his world champions, spurred by some exciting new faces, secured another ODI trophy after the most trying of tours to the UK.
Injuries and illness to a host of the squad, including skipper Marsh’s own sore back which forced him out of the decisive final ODI against England in Bristol, plagued the team on a chilly, stop-start, weather-hit 25-day, 10-match tour.
Yet sweeping the T20 series against Scotland, before sharing a 1-1 T20 draw and edging a rain-affected ODI series 3-2 against England left Marsh adamant that “it was a great trip”, not least because the world champions were able to test their new talent in difficult circumstances against demanding opposition.
Asked how much he felt his side had left in the tank with the Champions Trophy in February their next big ODI target, Marsh enthused: “Hopefully, a lot more. Those trophies are really hard to win, and you have to build towards those, and I thought this was a really good series for us.”
Was he excited about the next generation, like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly and Aaron Hardie?
“Yeah, big time,” responded the skipper. “They’ve been great characters around our group.
“We really emphasised young guys coming in and making this their team and hopefully having a really good experience playing for Australia.”
He declined to declare who he felt might be the next superstar among the newer recruits but it was clear Marsh has a lot of time for Hardie, the powerful, quick bowling allrounder who had a fine tour, taking 2-38 at Bristol and 2-26 at Leeds, while blasting a notable 44 off 26 balls in Chester-le-Street.
“I’ve seeing Aaron Hardie do what he’s done for a long period of time for WA. He’s an outstanding talent for the future,” said Marsh.
“I was really impressed by Aaron. He’s a really good young kid, and is learning a lot on the run, but I thought he played some really pivotal roles for us with both bat and ball throughout this series.
“So I’m sure he’ll take a lot of confidence back home after what was an outstanding tour for him.”
Still it was one of the older stagers Travis Head, who did most to deliver the ODI win over England, with his 248 quickfire runs and, rather more surprisingly, his six wickets, including the career-best 4-28 that turned the tide Australia’s way in their 49-run win on DLS.
Asked afterwards if his bowling was something he takes seriously, Head just beamed delightfully: “No…”
His captain evidently hopes he will. “He’s a very underrated bowler,” said Marsh, of his unlikely spinning weapon.
“Every time he bowls, he seems to change the game in a way and he’s a great character, we always love his celebrations. To have options like him, we’re lucky. Where Travis is at, we just let him play his game and do his thing.”
As for the madness of playing cricket internationals in England in late September, Marsh tried to be diplomatic.
“Maybe a golf trip … certainly it’s a new experience for us playing in the cold and this late in the year in England.
“I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t prefer it to be in July with a bit of heat.”
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