Mitchell Marsh Prepared to Bowl as Needed for Australia Ahead of Brisbane Test
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Brisbane, Dec 12 (NationPress) Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has expressed his preparedness to bowl based on the team's needs as they approach the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India.
Marsh was managed with caution prior to the commencement of the five-match series and received careful oversight ahead of the Adelaide Test due to his recurring back stiffness since the white-ball tour in the UK in September.
Plans for him to bowl in the Sheffield Shield earlier in the season were abandoned due to ongoing back concerns. During the Perth Test, he successfully claimed two wickets, delivering 17 overs throughout the match but felt soreness afterward. This uncertainty led to doubts regarding his availability for the Adelaide Test, prompting the call-up of Beau Webster as backup.
In preparation for the Adelaide match, Marsh abstained from bowling, with Pat Cummins confirming that the decision was made to conserve his bowling capacity during training. However, his contributions were limited in the first innings, where he bowled only four overs and ended with figures of none for 26.
"We had a very specific plan prior to the series. I didn’t bowl as much as I would have preferred leading up to the series, but our medical team along with Ronnie and Patty (Cummins) were very clear about my preparation. I trusted their guidance. I haven’t had to bowl much yet, but my body is feeling quite good," Marsh stated regarding his bowling.
The all-rounder also mentioned his eagerness to bowl under various match scenarios to fully leverage his versatility.
"I’ll aim to be ready to bowl as much as Patty requires me. Our all-rounders haven’t bowled extensively in Australia over the past few years, but I am truly grateful for our medical staff and Ronny and Patty, who provided me with the necessary recovery time between the first and second Test to prepare adequately for the game. I suppose there was quite a bit of discussion around it. I felt rather significant, actually, but my body feels excellent. Despite an interrupted lead-in, I am in a great position. For me, it's all about contributing. Whether that means bowling five overs and taking the occasional wicket or just providing relief for our teammates, I genuinely enjoy it," he added.
With the series level at 1-1, the third Test between India and Australia is set to take place in Brisbane starting Saturday.
