T20 World Cup 2022: Mitchell Marsh withdraws from race to replace Aaron Finch

He’s the centre point of Australia’s white ball cricket teams, but Mitchell Marsh has no interest in replacing Aaron Finch as the skipper.

Australia's Cameron Green bats during the first cricket match of the Twenty20 series between Australia and England at Optus Stadium in Perth on October 9, 2022. (Photo by TREVOR COLLENS / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE —

Modest Mitchell Marsh has ruled himself out of the Australian white ball captaincy in a surprise move which robs selectors of a frontline contender to replace Aaron Finch.

The superstar all-rounder is one of the most popular figures among Australian teammates, and many within the set-up feel strongly that Marsh has a natural leadership presence which would see him excel as a captain.

Marsh is soon to turn 31 and his heroics in last year’s World Cup final signalled an enormous turning point in the career of a player who used to be much-maligned, but is now seen by selectors as the centre point of Australia’s white ball teams.

There is a confidence about the way Marsh strides to the wicket as Australia’s powerful No. 3 which hasn’t always been there during his international career, however, while the unassuming star does feel he has grown as a player and person, he doesn’t want the vacant captaincy.

Mitchell Marsh (centre) is a key member of Australia’s white ball cricket squads. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

As disappointing as that might be to hear for Australian selectors, it’s understandable given the fitness battles and scrutiny he’s faced throughout his now 11-year international career.

“Probably not to be honest. I think I’m out of the race, there you go,” said Marsh ahead of Wednesday’s second T20 World Cup warm-up against England in Canberra.

“I know it sounds clichéd, but I really haven’t thought about it. I have had to get the body right for this World Cup and the World Cup is such an exciting prospect for all of us that to worry about that sort of stuff is just not on my radar at the moment.

“Obviously I know Cricket Australia have decisions to make after this World Cup … but it’s really not something I’ve thought about and I’m just enjoying my cricket.

“It’s been an amazing two years considering where I came from to where I am now as a cricketer, and probably a person, but I don’t need to worry about that stuff.”

Selectors are on the lookout for someone to replace Aaron Finch. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

Even though Australia’s first ODI without Finch will come just three days after the T20 World Cup final next month, selectors will likely be able to bide themselves some time before making a call on who will be their long-term captain.

There will be so many players rested for the three-match ODI series against England in November, it’s likely an interim captain will be named – and then it will be many months before Australia plays another ODI.

With the CA board still considering David Warner’s leadership ban among other issues like Pat Cummins’ workload as Test skipper and Steve Smith’s interest in captaincy, having the extra time up the sleeve could be useful.

David Warner is still banned from captaining a national team. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

The immediate focus is on the World Cup starting in 10 days’ time, and Ashton Agar continued to push is fitness case at Manuka Oval on Tuesday – bowling in the nets and completing an outfield fielding session.

However, Agar appears unlikely to get a game in before selectors must make a final call on its squad on Saturday.

All-rounder Marsh says he is hoping to return to bowling in next Monday’s final warm-up game against India in Brisbane.

“But with Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) back bowling now it’s a bit of a luxury, and we can work as a team and really build towards a World Cup,” said Marsh.

“Hopefully I can get a few good bowls in this week and then be ready to go.”

Marsh said Australia is close to just running with its best XI between now and the first match against New Zealand on October 22 at the SCG.

“I imagine over the next couple of days we’ll definitely settle on an XI and get us all together and get a couple of games under our belt,” he said.

GUESS WHO’S STALKING AGAR’S SPOT IN WORLD CUP TWIST

Ashton Agar has five days to convince selectors he will be World Cup ready or Cameron Green is poised to replace him in the Australian squad.

Although rushing in Green could allow Australia to cover more bases for their Cup defence, it’s unlikely he would be parachuted into the best XI in any case, with captain Aaron Finch confirming he will finally return to his home at the top of the order against England in Canberra on Wednesday night.

Agar is also being given every opportunity to prove his fitness, and may not necessarily need to play against England on Wednesday or Friday to do so if selectors can be convinced by the left-arm spinner and medical staff that he will be right to go by the time the tournament starts on October 22.

Australia's Ashton Agar has five days to prove his fitness for face being replaced in the T20 World Cup squad.

New Zealand have opted to keep Daryl Mitchell in their 15-man squad even though he won’t be fit until at least the second game of the Cup, and Australia could put similar faith in Agar — although there’s more risk involved when it’s a bowler coming back from a side strain.

The bottom line is Agar is still yet to prove he’s 100 per cent fit and Australian selectors have a strict deadline of Saturday to make any 11th hour changes to their 15-man World Cup squad.

After that point, replacing Agar with Green would not be possible because once October 15 has passed, any changes must be approved by an ICC technical committee and be deemed like-for-like.

Bringing in Green therefore, (a right-arm fast bowling all-rounder who can open the batting) would not be ruled a fair replacement for a left-arm spinner.

Cameron Green is leading the contenders as a possible replacement for Agar.

Taking the chance to bring Green in for Agar is tactically intriguing, but the logic is based on the fact that if the left-arm spinner is not fit, there is no like-for-like replacement in Australian cricket (particularly given Agar’s batting and fielding skills) who would be trusted to play alongside Adam Zampa as a second spinner in the best XI anyway.

Not to mention the fact playing a second spinner is highly unlikely in Australian conditions when there’s a pace arsenal of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins to unleash.

Therefore taking the chance to include an out-and-out matchwinner like Green in the squad instead of another spinner is hugely tempting, and if injury was to befall leg-spinning linchpin Zampa during the tournament, then either Agar could be recalled, or Mitchell Swepson called up.

Commentators have been scratching their heads at why Finch has dropped himself down the order to accommodate Green — who isn’t even in the World Cup squad — but the puzzle is now starting to come together.

Finch is now set to return as David Warner’s opening partner, but selectors have at least given Green a rigorous work-through should he ultimately join the squad.

“I’m going to go back to the top for the next game, which was always the plan,” Finch told Fox Cricket after the match.

Cameron Green is believed to be best suited as an opener if indeed he does play a World Cup game.

“We‘d get to the first two (T20s against West Indies) and then this game, then I’d go back to the top as preparation for the World Cup.

“It was just about giving ‘Greeny’ an opportunity at the top and to keep trying things. After this little burst, especially (with) guys coming off a lot of injuries as well … you have to be prepared.

“So just trying to get as many games into Greeny in case he has to be called into the squad.”

The fact all-rounders Marcus Stoinis (side) and Mitchell Marsh (foot) are returning from injury is what’s prompted Australia to give Green an extended run, because selectors have not wanted to go into any match with less than six bowling options.

The reasoning behind giving Green the prime real estate of Finch’s position as an opener is because selectors have not wanted to break up the middle-order combinations of finishers Matthew Wade, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis — and if Green was to end up playing a Cup game he might be best suited as an opener.

Stoinis reinforced his importance to the squad with his excellent return on Sunday night, while Marsh won’t necessarily need to be bowling by the end of the week — so important is he to the side as an out-and-out batsman.

With Glenn Maxwell likely to come in for Green against England on Wednesday, Australia might be finally getting close to naming its best XI — although there will logic in getting Steve Smith and Josh Inglis a hit during the warm-ups.