Mitch improving every Test: Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh expects his younger brother to be passed fit for the third Test against South Africa, also predicting bigger and better things from the allrounder.

cricket

Mitchell Marsh is coming into his own as an allrounder according to brother Shaun. (AAP)

Shaun Marsh believes the best is yet to come from younger brother Mitch, whose sparkling run of career-best form has hit a speedbump in the form of a groin strain.

Australia remain upbeat Mitch Marsh will be fit for the third Test against South Africa, which starts in Cape Town next Thursday.

Marsh's injury is minor but it's possible chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns may still summon a shadow player, most likely Marcus Stoinis.

The big question is whether Marsh, who also dealt with a gastro bug and code-of-conduct charge for swearing at Kagiso Rabada in the second Test, will be fit enough to bowl at full intensity at Newlands.

The allrounder only recently started to produce his best with the ball, having undergone shoulder surgery last year.

The 26-year-old is adept at reverse-swing, as evidenced by three big wickets in the current four-Test series, while also offering much-needed relief for Australia's frontline pacemen.

Marsh's batting would also be sorely missed by the visitors. He produced a match-winning knock of 96 in Durban and a patient 45 during an unsuccessful fightback in Port Elizabeth, backing up three headline-grabbing innings in the Ashes.

It is in sharp contrast to the early stages of Marsh's international career, when selectors were regularly criticised for not dropping somebody who managed two half-centuries and a batting average of 22 from 21 Tests.

Shaun Marsh, who has watched Mitch's transformation more closely than anybody, expects the rapid rate of improvement to continue.

"He's done fantastically well since he's come back in. I reckon it's the best I've seen him bat through his career, he's bowling well as well," Shaun Marsh said.

"There's definitely room for improvement for him and that's exciting for him and Australian cricket.

"He's improving every game he's playing. He's really starting to believe he belongs at this level.

"He's captain of Western Australia and ... he's growing in that aspect of his game. He's a really good leader among this group as well. He's got a good cricket brain and I think he's a natural leader."

Simon Katich expressed similar sentiments last week, opining the allrounder could be Steve Smith's successor as Test skipper.

The tourists have the rest of this week off to recharge their batteries, but Mitch Marsh won't get to enjoy nearly as much downtime as teammates.

"The break has come at a really good time. We've got 10 days between games and it gives him a really good chance to get some recovery in," Shaun Marsh said.

"The prognosis is pretty good ... we're pretty hopeful."

The Marsh brothers are relishing every moment together on tour.

The siblings accepted nine months ago they'd played their last Test together, with Shaun axed and taken off the national contract list.

"We have spoken about it. It's been an amazing last six months," Shaun Marsh said.

"To play in a home Ashes series and score some runs together was an amazing feeling.

"Hopefully there's a few more games."


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world