Four years ago Aussie Test allrounder Mitchell Marsh stared down the barrel of a camera and admitted ‘most of Australia hate me’ – but three incredible statistics about his play in England prove that vitriol was misplaced.
After blasting Australia to safety with a critical ton at Headingley in the third Ashes Test on Thursday, figures have emerged that place Marsh in some very esteemed company.
The allrounder nicknamed ‘Bison’ has been maligned by Aussie Test cricket fans ever since his debut against Pakistan in Dubai in 2014.
His batting average plummeted to 26.27 in 2015 and was not much better in 2019, when he averaged 26.63.
Marsh couldn’t lean into his bowling, either. While he had breakout year in 2015 when he took 20 dismissals, March only claimed another 22 wickets across five years at an expensive average of 37.95.
Marsh took his opportunity after four years out of the Test team with both hands, belting the ball to all quarters to rescue Australia’s innings
The large Aussie contingent cheers for Marsh just four years after he admitted that the Aussie public ‘hates me’
Marsh was also dangerous with the ball, taking a wicket to put Australia right back into the Test match on day one at Headingley
Fans were stunned as selectors continued to keep faith with the younger son of Australian Test cricket legend Geoff Marsh, and savage calls of nepotism were attached to to the allrounder.
A dejected and deflated Marsh fronted the media in 2019 and addressed the fact that Aussies wanted him out of the team for good.
‘Most of Australia hate me,’ he said.
‘Australians are passionate, they love their cricket, they want people to do well.
‘There’s no doubt I’ve had a lot of opportunities at Test level and I haven’t quite nailed it, but hopefully they can respect me for the fact that I keep coming back, I love playing for Australia, I love wearing the baggy green cap.
‘I keep trying, hopefully I win them over one day.’
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Mitch Marsh has as many Ashes hundreds as David Warner and Adam Gilchrist, and as many Ashes five-fors as Pat Cummins and Merv Hughes
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) July 6, 2023
I just want to say, Mitch Marsh, you are loved. Lotta people excited to have you back. And anyone who’s seen The Test knows you’re properly funny as well. #ASHES
— Adam Zwar (@adamzwar) July 6, 2023
Then Cameron Green, a fellow West Australian, roared into contention after taking 5-24 on first-class debut against Tasmania when he was just 17.
Since the Covid pandemic, the allrounder spot has belonged to Green.
However when he picked up a hamstring injury in the second Ashes Test, Marsh was handed another chance against the Old Dart.
It was a moment he seized with both hands, smashing 118 runs off 118 balls under enormous pressure when Australia was reeling at 4 for 85.
Now, with that century in his keeping, Marsh has etched his name into Ashes folklore.
Marsh now has as many Ashes centuries as David Warner and Adam Gilchrist, and as many Ashes five-wicket hauls with the ball as current skipper Pat Cummins and the legendary Merv Hughes.
Marsh and Cummins celebrate a wicket on day one of the third Test. Both men share the same amount of five wicket hauls in Ashes cricket
Marsh is now on the same level as legends of the game like Adam Gilchrist when it comes to tons scored against England
Green was unlucky to miss out on selection for the third Test after picking up a minor hamstring strain. He has kept Mitchell Marsh out of the team for four years
It means Marsh also has more Test tons against England than his brother Shaun, Dean Jones, Brad Haddin and current teammate Travis Head.
Yet amazingly, Marsh was not supposed to be squaring up at Headingley.
Instead the burly West Australian had consigned himself to playing Major League Cricket in the United States with short-form specialists Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis.
He had not played Test cricket in four years and Green was the man for today, Marsh the man of yesterday.
However, chief selector George Bailey saw what happened when Green went down injured in the Test series against India earlier this year and Marsh had returned to full fitness following surgery.
‘Not having Greeny during part of the India series highlighted to us the value of having that as a back-up. Mitch has performed well in the UK in the past and we think he can add some real value,’ Bailey said at the time.
England will resume play today at 3-68 chasing Australia’s total of 263.
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