Mitchell Marsh has come in support of Steve Smith who has been struggling with his form, backing him to hit runs once again during the third test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Smith had a score of 0, 17, and 2 in the ongoing series so far which shows his poor form in the format in 2024.
In 13 innings this year, Smith has scored 232 runs at an average of 23.20 including one-half century. “We know he’s one of our best players ever and I’m certainly backing him to get some runs,” said Marsh.
“I’m probably not in a position to tell Steve Smith what he should work on. We know he’s a class player and he’s scored a lot of runs for Australia and we know at times when we’ve needed him, he always seems to step up.”
India has headed to Gabba after a humiliating defeat at Adelaide. With visitors produced a test win in the 2020-21 tour to breach what had been a fortress for the hosts and claimed back-to-back win in Australia.
“The biggest thing for us is just focusing on this week and not what’s happened in the past. The way we bounced back from Perth was an example of that. We’re really focused on playing our style this week and hopefully going 2-1 up the series,” Marsh said.
India’s ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed twice in three innings and taken out each of the other top five batter Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head.
“We know right now he’s probably the best bowler in the world. It’s just about getting up for that challenge, it’s a big series. You want to take the best in the world on. That is certainly my mentality. Looking forward to facing him again,” Marsh said.
“I think each batter has their own plans. As a batting unit we back each other’s plans. I think when you have the best bowler in the world and you are just trying to see him off, he is going to have one with your name on it. I think it is about applying pressure with your own method and taking the challenge on,” he added.
Marsh said that there was a clear communication made to him from the team management regarding his bowling requirements in the series.
“We had a really clear plan before the series started. I didn’t bowl as much as I would have liked to in the lead-up to the series, but our medical staff and Ronnie and Patty [Cummins] were really clear on my lead-up. I trusted that. I haven’t had to bowl too much so far but my body is feeling really good.
“I’ll try and be ready to bowl as much as Patty needs me. Our all-rounders haven’t bowled a hell of a lot in Australia the last few years but I am really thankful for our medical staff and Ronny and Patty who have allowed me the space between that first and second Test to just get right for the game.”
“I guess there was a fair bit of noise about it. I felt rather important actually but my body feels really good. I had an interrupted lead-in but I am really well placed. For me it is about being able to contribute.”
“Whether that is five overs and bowling the occasional good ball and getting a wicket or just bowling overs to give our boys a chop out, I love it,” concluded Marsh.
With Australia securing a 10 wicket victory in the pink ball test, India dropped to third place while Australia secured second position in the points WTC points table. The third match of the AUS-IND test will begin on December 14 at The Gabba.
