All-rounder gets teammate’s backing in Australia leadership role
Mitchell Marsh got the first crack at winning the permanent role of Australia’s T20I captain, after his predecessor Aaron Finch retired from the game. The talented all-rounder was named as the captain for Australia's white-ball tour of South Africa.
And Marsh has ticked all the right boxes so far. He has led the side to two emphatic wins against the Proteas, giving them an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match T20I contest. Moreover, he’s also given match-winning contributions in both games.
He was the Player of the Match in the first match for his unbeaten 92 from 49, which included 13 fours and two sixes. This helped Australia to a total of 226/6. They won this game by 111 runs.
He followed this up with an unbeaten 76 from 39 in the second T20I. Australia chased down a target of 165 in merely 14.5 overs, with eight wickets to spare. He thrashed the South Africa attack all around the park during this knock, hitting six sixes in the process.
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This was no surprise to his teammate Sean Abbott, who won the Player of the Match award in the second game for his 3/22.
“I think the way he's playing on the park is just the way he's been playing for such a long time now,” Abbott said. “To Mitch's credit he's quite a level personality, certainly amongst the group.
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“He hasn't changed at all since stepping into the captaincy, albeit only two games and having only been on tour for a week. Not surprised at all that he's doing really well and flourishing in his first two games as captain.
“It's really good to see because he's such a great person, such a good team man and really cares about people around him.”
Marsh will also lead Australia in the upcoming five-game ODI series.
Schedule:
3 September: Third T20I, Durban
7 September: First ODI, Bloemfontein
9 September: Second ODI, Bloemfontein
12 September: Third ODI, Potchefstroom
15 September: Fourth ODI, Centurion
17 September: Fifth ODI, Johannesburg