Andrew McDonald’s key role in creating an environment Mitch Marsh wanted to captain

Twelve months ago Mitch Marsh did not want to captain his state side, now the mercurial all-rounder reveals to BEN HORNE what’s changed, and why he’s ready to command his country.

Mitchell Marsh has revealed the lessons learned from being a “no good” captain have opened the door for him to become the leader Australia needs.

Even 12 months ago Marsh did not want to be considered as Australia’s white ball skipper, having previously handed back the Perth Scorchers captaincy because he didn’t feel he was fit for the job.

But the self-aware Marsh is no longer a player fighting a raging battle within, and takes over the reins of Australia’s Twenty20 side, and temporarily the ODI team, as a leader made wiser and more rounded by his personal journey of sailing through rough seas.

“I think it’s been a progression over the last four or five years,” Marsh told this masthead before flying to South Africa ahead of his first assignment, a T20 and ODI series starting next week.

Mitchell Marsh is no longer a reluctant captain. Picture: Getty Images

“When I gave up the Scorchers captaincy to focus on myself and where I was at in my life and my career, I didn’t think I had the capacity to captain any side at that point in time because I was just striving so much to try and hold my spot and get my spot back in the Test and one-day teams.

“You talk about staying true to yourself as a leader and I didn’t think it was fair on teams that I was captaining and I struggled as a captain at that point in time.

“It really clouded my decision-making as a captain. It was a tough time for me personally and so … I wasn’t any good (as a captain).

“I found it best for me personally and most importantly the team to step away from that role and focus on myself for a while and that helped my cricket a lot and it’s all been part of my journey I guess.”

Marsh’s selfless ability to contribute positively to the dressing room even when serving as 12th man or dealing with his own setbacks has proven he is a born leader, even if he hasn’t always felt like one himself.

Mitchell Marsh of Australia poses with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Trophy with his teammates following the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final match between New Zealand and Australia at Dubai International Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

The all-rounder’s man of the final heroics to lead Australia to its first ever T20 World Cup trophy in 2021 and his comeback Ashes hundred at Headingley this winter has emphasised how vital the matured 31-year-old has become for Australia in all formats.

Even so, Marsh said publicly following Aaron Finch’s decision to stand down as ODI captain late last year that he had no interest in the job.

“Probably not to be honest. I think I’m out of the race, there you go,” Marsh said last October.

“ … 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.”

But over the course of several months, the environment cultivated by Australian coach Andrew McDonald and Test captain Pat Cummins, and several conversations with the team hierarchy, has given Marsh the confidence that he should take on the responsibility of being a national skipper.

Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins chats to Mitchell Marsh during the recent Ashes Test series. Picture: Getty Images

“They probably got a few beers into me first,” Marsh said with a smile.

“Nah, no one had to convince me. It was more conversations we had throughout the Ashes … the conversations were all pretty easy.

“…I guess even last year I didn’t necessarily want to be captain, but with where our team is at now, the environment that Ronnie (McDonald) and Patty have created and the relationship I have with Ronnie to be able to work with him as a leader in our team, that really excites me.

“Whether I’m any good I guess we’ll find out.

“I know it’s clichéd, but I’ve always seen myself as a leader within our group.

“I think the biggest learnings I’ve had from my brief leadership roles and leading Western Australia and the Scorchers is to just stay true to yourself.

“I’ll still be myself. I’ll never change … hopefully I don’t get too grumpy.”

Originally published as Andrew McDonald’s key role in creating an environment Mitch Marsh wanted to captain