Ashton Agar Backs Struggling Mitchell Marsh, Claims He Remains Among Australia's Elite Six Batters
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New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) Ashton Agar has expressed his unwavering support for his Western Australian teammate Mitchell Marsh, asserting that despite recent struggles, the all-rounder is still recognized as one of the top six batters in Australia, even after a tough run in the Border-Gavaskar Series.
Marsh's ongoing form issues, highlighted by five consecutive single-digit scores, have ignited discussions regarding his position in the Test lineup ahead of the fifth Test at the SCG and the two-match tour of Sri Lanka.
In 2024, Marsh has accumulated just 283 runs at an average of 18.86 across nine Test matches, with his latest dismissal—a duck against Jasprit Bumrah in Australia's second innings on Sunday—marking his fifth consecutive single-digit score in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"We want Mitch playing every game for Australia. He’s good enough to do that. He’s still in the best six batters in the country. He’s obviously had a bit of a tough time lately, but he’s a resilient guy. He’s been through enough in his career to bounce back. Selection just takes care of itself—I know that’s how he’ll be thinking about it," Agar was quoted by Fox Sports.
Agar himself has faced challenges recently, being surpassed in Western Australia’s red-ball hierarchy by offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli. Nevertheless, his impressive performances in the Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers have kept him in the mix for national responsibilities, including the Champions Trophy squad in February.
When questioned about his chances of making a return to the international scene, Agar emphasized the significance of remaining focused.
“Honestly, not at all. There was a lot of noise about (Nathan) McSweeney and (Sam) Konstas coming in … you can’t escape that. In terms of my own selection, I don’t track it much, to be honest. I’ve probably made that mistake before, earlier in my career.
"I know now that if I’m just focusing on playing as well as I can in the game that’s right in front of me, it all ends up taking care of itself. It’s a lot less stressful that way, to be honest," he said.
Agar also praised another emerging talent from Western Australia, Cooper Connolly, who has been regarded as a strong contender for the Test squad following reserve batter Josh Inglis’s injury.
"Cooper's a gun. There’s been a lot said about Cooper. I think he’s probably the best young player I’ve seen in my time. He’s so talented. He’s got a very mature head on young shoulders. He reads the game really nicely. He enjoys playing the game and he enjoys big moments, so hopefully big things are to come," said Agar.
