Won’t be bowling in this series: Mitchell Marsh | Cricket News – Times of India

MUMBAI: Returning from a three-month injury layoff, Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will play as a specialist batsman in the three-match ODI series against India, which will kick off with the first game at the Wankhede Stadium here on Friday.
Marsh has just returned to action after recovering from a keyhole surgery on his left ankle. It’s an injury which has troubled him throughout his career, and it’s understandable why the 31-year-old is cagey about bowling right now, though he’s likely to turn his arm over for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
“(I) won’t be bowling this series. (I’m) probably still a month, three weeks away from bowling in games. I’m building towards the IPL. It’s certainly not something I’m rushing back. We’ve got a lot of options in our team at the moment and a lot of cricket to play this year. The reason I had the surgery was to prolong my career as an allrounder and won’t be rushing back,” Marsh told reporters here on Thursday.

After missing the entire Big Bash League season, Marsh made his comeback for Western Australia against Tasmania in the 50-over Marsh Cup, and was out for a duck. However, he showed off his class in the next two games, slamming 108 not out & 56. “Anytime you get a long layoff through injury for me it’s been really important to make sure I come back a better version of myself. I feel that way right now, feel really good. It was nice to be able to play some games for WA, get some miles in the legs. Feeling great and hopefully I contribute to a few wins,” Marsh said.
Like all the Aussie players, Marsh, who was adjudged as the ‘Player of the Final’ after stroking 77 to star in Australia’s eight0win win over New Zealand in the final of the 2021 R20 World Cup in UAE, seemed geared up to take on the challenge of playing against one of the toughest teams in world cricket on their home turf. “It’s always a difficult place to win. The Indian one-day team is outstanding and they play very well at home. We’ve also got a very good side here, going to be a great contest. Hopefully we can play some good cricket and entertain some big crowds,” Marsh said.
When he does bowl, Marsh, along with Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis offers Australia the luxury of playing as many as three all-rounders. It’s a massive advantage for the Aussies as it means that they have multiple bowling options, and their batting depth is enhanced. Marsh has scored 1913 runs in 69 ODIs@32.39, with 13 fifties and one hundred, besides taking 54 wickets @35.42. Marsh felt that the presence of quality all-rounders amongst their ranks would give a team like Australia an edge in the ODI World Cup in India later this year, which he estimated could see a fair bit of high-scoring games.

“As an allrounder I think it’s vitally important they play all three of us…that’s a joke,” he grinned.
“For the balance of our team, having as many allrounders in here as we can is really important for the structure we line up with. We’ve seen really good teams in the past, England have guys batting at No. 8 who are genuine batters, and it gives you the ability to either set really big totals or chase big totals. I think we’ll see that in this series. Hopefully, there’ll be a lot of runs scored, and looking forward to the World Cup, just the way cricket is played here in the white-ball format, you’ll have to chase or make big scores. The more flexibility and depth you can have with your batting line-up, I think it will be really important,” he said.