Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins says forgetting expectations and staying true to his style have been the keys to West Aussie Mitch Marsh’s resurgence.
Marsh was named Man of the Match in his first Test at Optus Stadium after winning his spot back off state compatriot Cam Green during the Ashes.
The burly all-rounder cracked a brilliant 90 in the first innings and was unbeaten on 63 when Australia declared on day four of their crushing triumph over Pakistan in the West Test.
His attacking style worked perfectly in an enforcer role, Pakistan’s quicks punished regardless of where they bowled, his power-packed pull shots and classy drives a feature.
“I think he just has a really clear process at the moment in whatever format it is. He knows how to score runs, and he doesn’t care what it really looks like,” Cummins said post-game.
“I think in the past you can get caught up in there’s a template of how you’re meant to play Test cricket, and you’ve got to have a great forward defence.
“I think the way Travis Head’s gone about it, how David Warner’s played his whole career, and now Mitch Marsh shows you’ve got to score runs, and it doesn’t really matter how you score them.
“I think he’s found a really good game plan wherever he is in the world and the great wicket of Babar (Azam) as well, so he chips in as an all-round player.”
Marsh earned his place for the home summer with an incredible run-a-ball Ashes century in Leeds and looks to have cemented it with 153 runs in the first of three matches against Pakistan.
Cummins also confirmed that the rest of the line-up would likely remain the same for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG in nine days.
“We’ll take stock over the next couple of days, but I think all the bowlers are pretty fresh after that; it’s basically the ideal start to the summer,” the Australian captain said.
“We’ll get to Melbourne. It’s still a week or so until the next game, but I don’t think injuries are going to be an issue, so I dare say it will be a pretty similar line-up.”