Australia must reinject the destructive Mitch Marsh into their T20 World Cup XI for Thursday’s clash with Bangladesh, says former Test cricketer Bryce McGain.
The former one-Test leg-spinner didn’t indicate if he’d drop Ashton Agar for Marsh, after the finger-spinning all-rounder was hauled into the side at Marsh’s expense for what resulted in a pulverising loss at the hands of England.
But McGain said someone must make way for Marsh in order for Australia to quicken their early-innings run-rate.
McGain’s comments follow Australia’s eight-wicket defeat on Sunday morning (AEDT), in which England accounted for their 125 runs with eight wickets in hand and 8.2 overs to spare.
Australia’s top order failed to mount quick runs in the loss, with David Warner being dismissed for one run off two balls, Aaron Finch scoring 44 at slower than a run a ball and Steve Smith soaking up five deliveries in an innings of just one run.
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McGain believes Marsh should return to first drop, which is where the big-hitting all-rounder batted in Australia’s World Cup opener against South Africa.
“I think they may have to go back and have Mitch Marsh,” McGain said on SEN radio.
“They tried without it. They wanted the extra bowling option in the all-rounder Ashton Agar batting down the order.
“Now he did well… He wasn’t disgraced and he did his job, he’s fitting in where he can.
“But I would suspect they do need early firepower hitting in the powerplay… and it appears Mitch Marsh would do that role at No.3.
“And if we get off to a good start, that’s fine; use him later on.”
Agar made 20 runs from 20 balls in the defeat to England, before taking 1-15 from 2.4 overs at the tight economy of 5.62.
Marsh was dropped for Australia’s third game of the tournament despite his terrific T20 series across July and August.
Batting at No.3, Marsh averaged 43.8 in a five-match series against the West Indies and 31.2 in another five-match series against Bangladesh.
Australia’s selectors are clearly unsure how to use him at the World Cup, having batted him at first drop for the South Africa match, listing him at six for the Bangladesh fixture – he didn’t bat – and axing him for the England game.
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“We got flexed on (by England), didn’t we?” McGain said.
“One of the really good T20 nations, and they really flexed on us, we were comprehensively beaten in all departments.
“It really was a wake-up call. We can’t afford to slip up another one, because we’ll be out.
“Our net run-rate got demolished. That could be the difference in these tight groups.”
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