Mitch Marsh missed Australia’s ODI win to seal the series against England 3-2

With Cameron Green sent home from England with a back issue, seeing Mitch Marsh miss the final ODI concerned some before Travis Head was the hero, again.

Australian captain Mitch Marsh is adamant he’s “all sweet” after missing Australia’s ODI series sealing win over England after pulling up sore from his bowling effort in the fourth game.

Marsh allayed fears he could join Cameron Green, who was sent home from England with a back issue, on the sidelines as the team prepares for a full Aussie summer including an ODI series against Pakistan in November and a five-match Test series against India.

“I pulled up a bit sore after the last game, to a point where it was the right call to sit out today,” Marsh said after Australia sealed a 49-run win after rain ended the match early.

Travis Head was the star for the Australians but with the ball, snaring 4-28 and halting an England charge after the home team reached 2-201. England lost 4-36 in a mid-innings collapse.

“I think he’s a very underrated bowler and every time he bowls he seems to change the game in a way,” Marsh aid.

“He’s a great character, we always love his celebrations, so like I said earlier, it’s great to have as many options as you can, and the conditions change, it started spinning a bit later on in their innings, so to have options like him, we are lucky.”

Australians to score 200+ runs and take 4+ wkts in an ODI bilateral series in the last 10 years

Travis Head vs Pakistan in 2017
Travis Head vs England in 2024*

He is in the form of his life - something he will remember and tell his grandkids. pic.twitter.com/3AS4dRx9kH

— A & K (@badjocker1020) September 29, 2024

Head bowled the final over, for the second time in the series, letting his fast-bowling teammates know it’s not that hard.

“Four-for and death bowling as well! I don’t know why Josh Hazlewood is always complaining about bowling at the death,” teased Head afterwards.

“I didn’t come here expecting to bowl in the 50th over twice, so very nice to get the job done.”

Head then made 31 in a 78-run opening partnership with Matt Short, who swatted four sixes and seven fours in his 30-ball innings of 58 as part of his strong push to become Australia’s permanent ODI opening replacement for the retired David Warner.

Stand-in captain Steve Smith (36 not out) and Josh Inglis (28 off 20 balls) then finished the job off for the Australians.

Australia used eight bowlers in the final game, which marked an ODI debut for Cooper Connolly during a series in which injury and illness forced team changes throughout the rapid-fire five games played across just 11 days.

That made Marsh extra proud of the capacity to take down the home team, with the final match played in extreme cold as well.

“I guess I’m really proud of the fact that we did have a lot of moving parts throughout these last couple of weeks,” he said.

“But we had guys step up for us, and I’m sure everyone’s looking forward to getting home, a bit of a reset.

“We get an opportunity to go back and play for our states, and then obviously it’s a huge summer, so everyone will be excited for that.”

Originally published as Mitch Marsh missed Australia’s ODI win to seal the series against England 3-2