Ashton Agar says Mitchell Marsh should stay in Australian Test team
A state teammate has launched a strong defence of Mitch Marsh as calls grow for Australia to replace the all-rounder in Sydney.
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Ashton Agar has come to the defence of close friend and Western Australian teammate Mitch Marsh, saying the struggling all-rounder is “still in the best six batters in the country”.
A dire series with the bat has thrown Marsh’s future in the Test side into significant doubt leading into Friday’s fifth Test at the SCG and the two-match tour of Sri Lanka in a month’s time.
Agar said Marsh, who won last year’s Allan Border Medal but only managed 283 runs at 18.86 in his nine Tests this year, could turn his fortunes if given the chance by the selectors.
His dismissal to Jasprit Bumrah for a duck amid a collapse of 3-11 on Sunday was his fifth consecutive single-digit score in the Border-Gavaskar Series, prompting calls for form all-rounder Beau Webster to take his place in Sydney.
“We want Mitch playing every game for Australia. He’s good enough to do that,” Agar said on Monday.
“He’s still in the best six batters in the country. He’s obviously had a bit of a tough time lately, but he’s a resilient guy. He’s been through enough in his career to bounce back.
“Selection just takes care of itself – I know that’s how he’ll be thinking about it.”
Agar returned for two Sheffield Shield games for WA in November after he was overtaken in the state’s red-ball pecking order by offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli, and with strong Big Bash form for the Perth Scorchers remained a chance to be picked in Australia’s squad for the Champions Trophy in February.
“Honestly, not at all,” he said when asked if he was focusing on his prospects of an international return.
“I don’t track the selection or the squad. Obviously, there was a lot of noise about (Nathan) McSweeney and (Sam) Konstas coming in … you can’t escape that.
“In terms of my own selection, I don’t track it much, to be honest. I’ve probably made that mistake before, earlier in my career.
“I know now that if I’m just focusing on playing as well as I can in the game that’s right in front of me, it all ends up taking care of itself. It’s a lot less stressful that way, to be honest.”
Agar showered praise on WA and Perth Scorchers teammate Cooper Connolly, who also bowls handy left-arm finger spin and was poised to enter Test calculations as a potential replacement for injured reserve bat Josh Inglis in squad for Sydney.
“Cooper’s a gun. There’s been a lot said about Cooper. I think he’s probably the best young player I’ve seen in my time,” Agar said.
“He’s so talented. He’s got a very mature head on young shoulders. He reads the game really nicely.
“He’s just a great young man. I’m very good friends with him. I love spending time with him.
“He enjoys playing the game and he enjoys big moments, so hopefully big things to come.”
Originally published as Ashton Agar says Mitchell Marsh should stay in Australian Test team
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