Australia’s have lost their fast-bowling allrounder Mitchell Marsh to an injury for the remaining ODIs of their home series against Zimbabwe. The 30-year-old will also skip the three-match rubber later against New Zealand after going down with an ankle issue.
Marsh’s injury has been described by the team management and CA’s medical staff as “minor ankle soreness“, but the think-tank is taking no risk with the cricketer, who was key to their 2021 T20 World Cup win.
Desperate to retain the crown in home conditions in October-November, Australia have given Marsh ample time to rehab and be available for the three-match T20I series in India in late September.
Speaking on his teammate’s injury, batting stalwart Steve Smith said the scenario is “obviously not ideal“ for Marsh, who would’ve loved to play out the set of six one-dayers at the start of the summer and build-up to the T20 World Cup with overs and runs under his belt.
But the former Test skipper agreed it is best that Marsh rests and rehabs given that the World Cup is Australia’s immediate “priority“.
“Disappointing for Mitch but there’s some pretty important stuff coming up, he was a big part of the T20 World Cup campaign last year and sure there’s big plans for him this year so the priority is to get him right for that,”
Smith was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Marsh will have the opportunity to fine-tune his T20 World Cup preparations with the series in India and the home T20Is scheduled against the West Indies and England.
Playing the first ODI in Townsville versus Zimbabwe, he bowled a tight spell of 1 for 22 with his disciplined medium fast-bowling before getting dismissed for 2 in Australia’s successful run-chase.
The player was instrumental in Australia’s T20 World Cup trophy last year. Playing the critical aggressor’s role at No.3, he made his runs at a strike-rate of 146.82 while averaging 61.66 over five innings. His tally included a match-winning 77* off 50 balls in the final against the Kiwis in Dubai.
