Mitchell Marsh is all set to captain Australia for the first time at an ICC event next month during the T20 World Cup 2024. The prominent all-rounder is currently recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him after just four matches in the IPL 2024. Marsh mentioned that it will take some time before he resumes bowling.
Marsh had to withdraw from the IPL 2024, where he represented Delhi Capitals, due to a hamstring injury after playing only four games. With the T20 World Cup’s ninth edition just around the corner, Marsh is striving to regain his bowling fitness to fully utilize his all-round capabilities at the prestigious event.
Marsh said: “It’s been progressively slow, but I’m finally getting there now and looking forward to getting stuck into the tournament.”
“Initially we thought it was a three-weeker, but with tendons, they can take a little bit longer and you’ve sort of got to go on feel. Once I was ruled out of the IPL, we’ve certainly taken our time to get right. And I feel lucky that I’ve had that bit of extra time, a little bit of time at home to refresh,” he further added.
He appeared in good form during a training session with his teammates in Trinidad on Sunday and is expected to be fit for Australia’s opening match against Oman in Barbados on June 5. Marsh discussed the specifics of his injury and confirmed that he is on track for a full recovery ahead of the significant ICC tournament.
Marsh is set to participate in Australia’s first warm-up match against Namibia on Wednesday in Trinidad. The former T20 champions also have a warm-up game scheduled for Friday against the West Indies. The 32-year-old indicated that he would play as a specialist batter during these warm-up matches since he needs additional time before resuming bowling.
Nonetheless, Marsh expressed little concern, noting the presence of two other seam-bowling all-rounders, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green, on the team.
Mitchell Marsh concluded: “Probably still a little while off. I’ll start bowling hopefully soon. Get through these practice games as a batter and then we’ll ramp it up, But it’s one of the beauties of being captain now, I don’t have to bowl myself. We’re lucky that we’ve got so many options with ball and so much talent, Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) and Greenie (Cameron Green), and we’ve got a lot of options. So, all our planning, it allows me to be really clear on that. I’ll bowl when I need to bowl, but outside that, it’s always team first.”
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