Mitch Marsh still has a long road back to the Australian team

A syndesmosis injury suffered in September could be a dagger to Mitch Marsh’s Australian ambitions this summer.`

Mitch Marsh faces a long road back to the Test team. Picture: Glyn KIRK / AFP

Mitch Marsh has effectively ruled himself out of playing any international cricket this summer, declaring he won’t be able to bowl until the middle of the Big Bash.

The all-rounder is still recovering from a syndesmosis injury suffered in the opening match of the Indian Premier League in September.

He only started running last week and was “hopeful” he could play for Australia A against the touring Indians next month, although it would only be as a batsman.

The 29-year-old hasn’t played any cricket for nearly three months and has also been isolated from his West Australian teammates as he continues his rehab.

He hopes to know by Friday if he will be ready to play for Australia A, with the first match starting on December 6 and the second December 11.

“It’s been quite frustrating and slow to watch cricket, but hopefully for the start of the Big Bash (on December 12 for the Scorchers) I will be right,” he said on Monday.

There’s no easy path back into the Australian team for Mitch Marsh as he recovers from injury. Picture: Glyn KIRK / Pool / AFP

“I’ll find out this week if I’m ruled in or out by Friday. I’ve got a few things I need to tick off rehab-wise. I started running last week which was great and now I have a few kilos to shed before I start playing.

“At this stage it will just be batting, I wouldn’t imagine I would be bowling until midway through the Big Bash at this point in time.

“I’ve spoken to a few AFL players about (the injury) and they’ve said it gets good quickly at the end. Hopefully, that’s the case in the next couple of weeks.”

Marsh, who returned to the Test team during the Ashes in 2019, isn’t part of the 17-man squad to face India.

He conceded he couldn’t see a path back into the Australian team, Test or limited overs, any time soon

“It’s going to make it hard for me,” he said.

“They’ve picked their Test squad for the summer and I am not in it. I just want to get back and play Big Bash.

“I’m really excited to get back, it’s been a long few months and I can’t wait.”