Mitchell Marsh will be extremely eager to see whether Santa leaves him a present this year, with the all-rounder expecting to wait until Christmas Day before finding out whether he has won a Test recall.
The dumped vice-captain is effectively in a race with Peter Handscomb for the final spot in Australia’s XI for the Boxing Day Test against India at the MCG, with national selectors needing to decide whether to persist with the struggling Victorian captain for his home Test, or opt for extra bowling depth at a venue where wickets have been exceptionally hard work in recent times.
Mitch Marsh reacts after being dismissed in the loss to the Renegades.Credit:AAP
“I’ve been in and out of the team for years. So you just get used to it. I’ll prepare to the best of my ability, and that’s all I can control.
"Until I get the nod, or don’t get the nod, I’ll just focus on my training and preparing, and that’s it.”
Marsh was afforded a day off in Melbourne on Friday before the 13-man Test squad, which along with the XI of the first two Tests also includes spare paceman Peter Siddle, convenes on Saturday.
The Scorchers skipper said he wouldn’t know until match eve whether he would play in the third Test.
“I’ll find out Christmas Day. So I’ll either be having a coffee or a couple of frothies,” Marsh said.
Marsh said he “wasn’t necessarily surprised” to be have been omitted ahead of the first Test.
“[But] I went in there with the attitude I was going to be playing, so I was disappointed.
"I’ve tried to tell myself that I always had the team first and as disappointed as I was, they felt the six batters was the best option for the team, and my job was to run the drinks.”
Marsh attributed his dismissal on Thursday night to being overly excited about playing.
He went to whack a ball from Jack Wildermuth over the fence but instead skied the Renegades all-rounder to be caught at mid-on by debutant Will Sutherland.
“I was just really amped. That shot early in my innings is not in my game plan, so that’s disappointing, but I absolutely love playing for the Scorchers, and any chance you get is great,” Marsh said.
Marsh also didn’t bowl, as much as he would have liked to.
“I want to be bowling as much as possible,” he said.
“Certainly in this format, to become a really good depth bowler within our white ball cricket we’ve got coming up.
"But ultimately team always comes first, and as skipper we’ve got one of the best bowling attacks in the comp.”
Meanwhile Cameron Bancroft is hanging around the Scorchers’ camp ahead of the end of his ball-tampering ban later this month.
The opener will be free to play in Perth’s game against Hobart on December 30.
“It’s great to have him around the group,” Marsh said.
“He’s champing at the bit to get back, and we’re all champing at the bit to have him back around the squad.”
Source: Read Full Article