Ashes 2019: Mitchell Marsh Takes His Maiden Test Fifer

Mitchell Marsh, who jokingly shared that most of Australia hate him, has completed his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests. Although his selection ahead of Travis Head raised eyebrows, he made justice with his selection by taking a fifer, his maiden as well.

The final Test at Adelaide was seen a different Marsh who restricted England within 271/8 on the very first day, courtesy to Mitchell Marsh’s four-wicket haul. Ben Stokes was his first victim when he got an edge and Nathan Lyon took an easy catch in the 40th over.

After Stokes’ dismissal, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow added 40 runs before Root was dismissed after getting lives for three times. Marsh trapped Bairstow before the stumps but he took a DRS. It was a big inswinger that crashed into Bairstow’s front pad. No bat was involved there and he was clearly dismissed in the 60th over for 22.

His next wicket came in the 64th over when his pitched up delivery dismissed Sam Curran. Curran hit that ball without moving his feet and got a thick outside edge. He was dismissed for 15. In the 66th over, Marsh trapped Chris Woakes before the wickets for mere 2.

Mitchell Marsh, however, took his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests on the second day of the final Test. His fifer came in the 88th over on the second day when he bowled Jack Leach for 21. Leach tried to block this back of a length delivery but he was late in bringing his bat down and ended up being bowled.

With this dismissal, Marsh helped his side to restrict their arch-rival England within 300. However, due to poor form and injuries left him out of the squad. It took a strong fitness training and proper diet to return in the squad.

“I wasn’t making runs – if you bat No. 4 for Australia you need to make runs,” Marsh said. “Last year was a range of stuff, a few things in my personal life. I lost a close friend to suicide at the start of the summer and when things like that happen, I didn’t handle it as well as I could have and that transitioned into my cricket at times as well. I understand everyone goes through tough periods in their life but I certainly didn’t handle it as best I could,” he concluded.