Cricket: Mitch Marsh will miss month of cricket in the lead-up to Australia’s T20 World Cup defence

The stop-start international career of Mitch Marsh is on hold again after he suffered an injury.

Mitchell Marsh has been sidelined with an ankle injury. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The emergence of all-rounder Cameron Green has come at the perfect time for Australia, with first-choice white-ball star Mitch Marsh ruled out of the next month of cricket with an ankle injury.

It’s a cruel blow ahead of Australia’s T20 World Cup defence for Marsh, who was player of the final in last year’s epic triumph in the United Arab Emirates but has struggled for continuity since.

Marsh, who played in Australia’s opening ODI win over Zimbabwe in Townsville on Sunday, will miss the remainder of that series plus three matches against New Zealand in Cairns next month as he rehabs his injury.

It’s hoped Marsh will be back for a T20 series against India that will be a crucial lead-in to the World Cup.

Marsh will be replaced in the squad by keeper Josh Inglis, and Marsh’s absence hits at Australia’s plans to focus on an “all-rounder-heavy” one-day side, as laid down by captain Aaron Finch.

Marsh played with Green, who was man of the match with a five-wicket haul, Marcus Stoinis and spinning all-rounder Glenn Maxwell last Sunday.

“We’ve seen the success England have had in the one-day format by batting down to 10 and 11 and having their bowlers as good options with the bat,” Maxwell said.

Mitch Marsh was the hero in Australia’s T20 World Cup win. Picture: Indranil Mukherjee / AFP

Steve Smith said Marsh was a loss but fitness for the upcoming T20 World Cup was the priority for the all-rounder.

“He’s been playing some good white-ball cricket recently,” Smith said on Tuesday.

“The way we set up our team the other day with bulk all-rounders, he was a big part of that.

“It’s disappointing for Mitch, but there’s some pretty important stuff coming up.

“He was a big part of our T20 World Cup campaign last year and I’m sure there’s big plans for him this year.

“The priority is to get him right for that.”