Will carry little weight in Ashes, says chief selector George Bailey about Mitchell Marsh
Chief selector George Bailey says Mitchell Marsh’s incredible match-winning knock was good for him and he will now have chances to be part of the test squad in the Ashes due to his latest performance by the bat.
Cricket Australia chief selector George Bailey says Mitchell Marsh’s incredible match-winning knock in the final of the T20 World Cup “will carry little weight” when the Ashes squad is picked.
Marsh played an outstanding inning in the final of the T20 World Cup and seals the match for the Aussies. He scored 77 off 50 balls and won the first T20 title against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday night.
Marsh made 185 runs at an average of 62 in the tournament and former Australian star such as Ian Healy believes the all-rounder has earned his selection in the team for the upcoming challenge against their traditional rivals in England.
But Bailey refused to commit when asked about the 31-year old ‘Player of the match in the T20 World Cup final.
“Not much, to be honest. They’re (T20s and Tests) about as far removed, we joke internally that they’re different sports in many respects,”
Bailey told SEN’s Dwayne’s World on Monday.
“There’s not much flow on, (but) you love to see players perform well internationally because you know it gives them great confidence going forward, and there’s no better time to pick someone than when they are up and about and confident.
“I don’t think necessarily that individual form in one format flows into another, and I don’t necessarily think that winning the T20 World Cup gives us any great advantage heading into the Ashes,”
Bailey added.
Marsh has played 32 tests for the team Australia but couldn’t make himself in the part of the test squad. He averaging 25 in the format by the bat and with the ball, he averages 39.
“We’re 12 hours since he played the innings of his life in T20 (World Cup), there will be lots of time to talk Ashes going forward.
“I think it’s really important that we celebrate the tournament and the role he’s played in that team, and celebrate the fact that he’s an Australian hero for a day and he’s very much a catalyst behind us holding the trophy above our heads.
“As I said, I think the formats are so completely different,”
the chief selector said.
Bailey, though, has not slammed the Test doors shut on Marsh, saying that he has a good three-four years of cricket ahead of him.
“We know Mitch is a very, very good player and he’s played Test cricket in the past, so we know he’s capable of it.
“What I can say about Mitch is that we have full confidence that the next two, three, and hopefully four years are going to be the best cricketing years of his career, so hopefully we get to see him playing all three formats for Australia.”