Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has praised Mitchell Marsh‘s current hitting form and said that there is still a chance for the all-rounder to return to Test cricket during the Ashes. Usman Khawaja, meantime, has thrown his support behind Matt Renshaw, believing that the Queensland player is the ideal choice to open with him in the opening Test.
Although the immediate focus was on white-ball cricket, McDonald acknowledged that there are still talks about the Ashes in his remarks prior to the T20I series against India. While acknowledging that the selectors would not hesitate to choose a player directly from white-ball cricket to play against England, he also pointed out that Mitchell Marsh might have a window to return to Sheffield Shield cricket, which takes place during the first two Test matches.
McDonald’s remarks are consistent with the selectors’ chair’s prior statements in April, when he reiterated that Mitchell Marsh Test career was still going well despite being dropped during the January India series. Due to Mitchell Marsh exceptional white-ball form—he has scored 555 runs in his last 10 innings—the prospect of a recall has accelerated in recent weeks.
“If we thought that playing white-ball cricket would help the Test team, we would feel at ease selecting someone—if you want to call it that—Mitchell Marsh.
The white-ball team has him as its captain. If he were to be in the window for test preparation, it would be really difficult for him to leave and balance it,” McDonald stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
He’s batting as good as he has for a long time, in our opinion. And from Headingley [in the 2023 Ashes] until he was dropped last summer, I believe he had among our best averages. He hit a bit of a flat patch there, so we thought it would be better to put Beau Webster in at that point,” he continued.
In recent weeks, Australia’s T20I captain and backup ODI captain has mockingly rejected the notion of making a comeback in Test cricket. He frequently uses humor when asked about his future in the red-ball format. A direct “no” was given by Marsh when asked if he was thinking about rejoining the Test team during the New Zealand tour. Not too long ago, he made a joke about being “six beers deep by lunch on day one” of the Ashes opening.
“Mitchell Marsh’s Test career is still a possibility. What would he need to prepare for? If he is not included in that first squad, it would have to be through white ball, or perhaps some Shield cricket following white ball, after which [he] may make his mark. When we play the Test matches, there are Shield [rounds] five and six as well, and guys who weren’t in the first Test will undoubtedly go to work at that time,” McDonald stated.
Before the Big Bash League break, Western Australia will play South Australia in a day-night Sheffield Shield match beginning November 22. They will then play Victoria in the final round. Mitchell Marsh played in two Shield matches prior to the India series last season, but he was later dropped due to a run of subpar performances, including six single-figure scores in seven innings. However, considering he hasn’t bowled competitively since the India series and has instead concentrated solely on his batting, it is unlikely that he will return to his all-round role even if recalled.
The following level is where Renshaw belongs: Khawaja
In the meantime, Khawaja has backed Matt Renshaw, saying he is certain the left-hander is prepared to play Test cricket again. The first Test in Perth is coming up, and the selectors are presently considering their choices for the opening slot. Sam Konstas, who played alongside Khawaja in the West Indies, is still the starting opener but has had a poor season, scoring only one fifty in four Shield innings after a weak Caribbean tour.
If Beau Webster and Cameron Green are both in the starting lineup, Marnus Labuschagne might also be able to go up to open. Labuschagne has been most effective for Australia at No. 3, thus Khawaja has stated that he would prefer to bat there.
“I believe that Marnus is in the third position, [Steve] Smith is in the fourth, and [Travis] Head is in the fifth. If Renshaw is selected, I am confident that he is in the ideal position to play against Australia once more and be prepared to score runs. Since he is my opening partner and a buddy, it goes without saying that I have some bias, but he has experience. In advance of Queensland’s game against New South Wales at the Gabba, Khawaja declared, “He has scored 184 for Australia.”
In the last three one-day matches [against India], he has performed admirably and hasn’t hurt himself. He looked the part and handled the pressure incredibly well, as he always does when he advances to the next level. One individual who truly belongs at the next level, in your opinion,” he continued.
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