Sticking with World Cup hero Mitch Marsh up the batting order reaped the ultimate reward for Australia

A move made by Australian selectors way back in July proved the masterstroke that helped push the team to its firstT20 World Cup title.

Mitchell Marsh celebrates following victory in the T20 World Cup final. Picture: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

When Mitch Marsh hit the first ball he faced in a T20 World Cup practice match for six, Australian captain Aaron Finch knew something special was coming.

That something special came with his matchwinning heroics in the World Cup final, an innings that included smashing New Zealand quick Adam Milne for six off the first ball he faced as he powered his way to an unforgettable 70 off 55 balls in Australia’s epic win.

Finch, who labelled Marsh a “special player” and also the “nicest person you will ever meet in your life”, said moving him to No.3 in the batting order might well have been the single most important move Australia made.

Elevated during white-ball tours to the West Indies and Bangladesh, Marsh, who spent the winter working only on trying to hit more sixes, dominated those tours despite Australia winning just two of 10 games.

The 30-year-old took that form to the World Cup and finished second only to man 0f the tournament David Warner in runs scored for Australia.

“He’s someone who loves the contest, loves the challenge, and we just backed him from the start,” Finch said after the victory.

“We committed to him batting No. 3 for a long time. He knew that, and that was … that’s all you need sometimes. You need a little bit of backing and you need some confidence from everybody else.

“And I think it was the first ball he faced in the practice game, the first practice game against New Zealand where he hit for six, also. That just shows the confidence that he has, the confidence we have in each other. It was brilliant.”

The only match Australia lost in the tournament was when Marsh was dropped for the clash against England, a move that backfired spectacularly.

Mitchell Marsh receives his player of the match award after the T20 World Cup final. Picture: Isuru Sameera Peiris/Gallo Images

Marsh finished the tournament with 185 runs, second only to Warner’s 289 for Australia. The duo were the only Australians to pass 50, which Marsh did twice, for the entire tournament.

Sending Marsh in at No.3 meant moving superstar Steve Smith down the order, a move Finch said the former Test captain embraced, ensuring there was nothing but “good vibes” throughout the team.

“It was something we chatted about before the West Indies and then after probably just reassured us. Smithy was so open to it, and he’ll do anything the team needs,” Finch said.

Marsh was unstoppable in the T20 World Cup final. Picture: Isuru Sameera Peiris/Gallo Images

Finch said the broad-shouldered all-rounder’s capacity to bounce back from missing the loss to England, which was a “structural” move only, was “outstanding”.

“He was obviously disappointed; everyone is when they get dropped. I don‘t know of anyone who is over the moon when they get dropped,” he said.

“He was disappointed but he knew it wasn‘t a performance thing. It was only a structural change of the team; we went with a different make-up. That’s all that was.

“But the way that he‘s bounced back has been unbelievable.”

Finch said Marsh, who has endured harsh criticism throughout his career but is now a two-time World Cup winner, deserved this success.

“He is the nicest person you will ever meet in your life,” Finch said.

“He’s obviously a special player. To be able to put up with the critics for so long, when his performance hasn’t been bad by any stretch of the imagination and any format of the game, if you look at his ODI numbers they are very good.

“For him to keep coming back after people keep doubting him shows how much of a quality person he is.”