Cricket: Injured star Mitch Marsh thinking about World Cup and not the ODI captaincy after Aaron Finch retirement

An Australian all-rounder had some good news on the injury front after being ruled out of touring India weeks out from the T20 World Cup.

Mitchell Marsh says he’ll be fit for the Twenty20 World Cup. Picture: Aamir Qureshi/ AFP)

Australia all-rounder Mitch Marsh says there “could be some conversations” about the one-day captaincy in the future but declared every bit of his energy is focused on overcoming an ankle injury in time for the T20 World Cup.

Marsh, who captains West Australia, missed Australia’s ODI series against New Zealand with an ankle injury that also ruled him out of next week’s T20 series in India.

Man of the match in Australia’s T20 World Cup win in the United Arab Emirates in 2021, Marsh said it was a “collective decision” to skip India to ensure he was at peak readiness when the title defence begins against the Kiwis in November.

“An as injury, it’s been on the minor end, but with a World Cup coming up, this is really the only opportunity to get it right,” Marsh said on Thursday.

“And for me personally, that’s my summer, that’s something we have built towards.”

Mitch Marsh lifts the T20 World Cup trophy. Picture: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Marsh, who was ruled out of the India trip along with fast bowler Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, expects to be ready for a World Cup lead-in series against the West Indies at the start of October.

That will be followed by more games against England, giving Marsh up to five games to finetune his preparation.

It’s that preparation that remains his sole focus too, and while the 30-year-old could be in the running to take over the ODI captaincy from the retiring Aaron Finch, he said it was a long way from his thoughts.

“There may be conversations down the track,” Marsh said.

“But for me personally, I think this World Cup is so important to us as a team and for me personally.

“It’s everything I have worked for over the last couple of years. I’ll focus on that.

“Cricket Australia have a few months to make that decision, we’ll see where it lands.”

Mitchell Marsh could replace Aaron Finch as captain. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Marsh said he was “not worried” about his injury recovering in time for the World Cup.

“I pushed for India but we made a collective decision to get right for the West Indies,” he said.

“There’s still so much cricket before the World Cup. We have six T20s, plenty of time.”

“I know if I prepare well, if I’m fit, and mentally I am gong well that I’ll be in those teams. I take a lot of confidence from that.”