Mitch Marsh falls short in quest for Boxing Day Test century

Australia’s Day 3 hero Mitch Marsh thinks there might be an MCG curse on his family after he fell short of a ton against Pakistan.

Mitch Marsh’s rescue act could not defy a long-running MCG curse on his family, but the all-rounder was thrilled to “stay true to himself” when the game was balanced on a knife-edge on day three.

The West Australian joined his brother Shaun (run out on 99 in 2015) in falling in the 90s at the MCG after he had his eyes on a “bloody big honours board” during a crucial 153-run partnership with Steve Smith.

Marsh described his defence during his innings and after the day’s play as “like Swiss cheese” as he avoided his trademark straight drive but punished Pakistan for any width after arriving at the crease with Australia 4-16 and the ball swinging under the MCG floodlights.

“There’s a lot of voices inside your head at four for 16,” Marsh said when asked if he’d been tempted to rein in his swashbuckling style after the top-order collapse.

Marsh said he had to focus on playing shots square of the wicket after a difficult third day pitch prevented him from playing his natural straight game. Picture: Michael Klein

“I think it just comes back to … knowing how to play my best, to get on the counter-attack and be positive in that situation … getting myself in and then playing the way I have for the last six months.

“My strength is hitting down the ground, but I felt like every time I was trying to do that I was either going to get thumped on the pad or nick off, so I sort of changed my game a little bit to really hit square of the wicket and hit squarish cover drives instead of trying to beat mid-off.”

The 32-year-old kept a close eye on his family, including Shaun, in the stands throughout the innings and noted his dad Geoff “moved an inch” when he reached 70.

“I could sense his nerves, but that’s the Marsh way,” he said.

Steve Smith (left) and Mitch Marsh put on 153 for the fifth wicket in what could prove to be a match-winning partnership after Australia had slumped to 4-16. Picture: William West / AFP

“(Falling for 96 was) obviously disappointing … I thought we navigated our way out of a tricky situation to get a partnership with Smudge (Smith), and I guess there’s a lot of history at this ground, the Boxing Day Test, and a bloody big honours board that I was close to getting on, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“Shaun got run out for 99 and Dad got 86 here, so Shaun’s technically still got me … hopefully I get one more crack at it.”

Marsh said the Australians would be satisfied with any more runs they could muster on day four on a wicket which he found had not become easier to bat on over his innings.

“It felt like really hard work, the ball was swinging around and Shaheen had his tail up – we know that he’s world-class,” he said.

“I still felt even on 96 that I could nick one, and I did – there’s still plenty in the wicket … for us to get in a position where we’re 240 ahead, we’re very happy.

“I think that if we were all out now we’d feel very much in the game … I don’t necessarily want to put a number on it for our bowlers, but we know that they can certainly hold a bat so a couple of good partnerships with some tired bowlers now, hopefully we can get up towards the 300 mark.”

Teammate defends Shafique after ‘crocodile jaw’ blunder

Abdullah Shafique’s teammate has leapt to his defence after the gun opener put down a second crucial catch in the slips cordon on the third day at the MCG.

Shafique, who dropped David Warner early in Australia’s first innings before the opener went on to put on 90 runs with Usman Khawaja, spilt another regulation chance when Mitch Marsh slashed at a wide delivery off Aamer Jamal.

Australia would have been left reeling at 5-46 if Shafique had taken the catch; instead, a misfield at mid-off the following ball gifted Marsh a boundary as he blasted his way to a game-changing 96.

Former Australian star fielder Mark Waugh said Shafique’s attempt had looked like “a crocodile jaw trying to catch the ball” and called for him to be removed from the slips.

Abdullah Shafique (right) spilt an easy chance at first slip with Mitch Marsh on 20 which also went through the hands of Salman Ali Agha (left) at second slip after bouncing off him. Picture: Fox Sports

The 24-year-old impressed with the bat through scores of 42 in Perth and 62 in Melbourne, but also dropped a straightforward opportunity in the first Test when Usman Khawaja skied a ball behind the wicket.

“He has not looked like catching one all series. It’s unfortunate, but you’ve got to get him out of there,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.

“His confidence is so low at the moment.”

Shafique swapped from first to second slip with Salman Ali Agha in the final session, before Salman took a stunning catch diving to his right to remove Marsh for Mir Hamza’s third wicket.

Hamza insisted Shafique’s place was in the cordon despite his difficult tour in the field.

“Abdullah is one of the best fielders in Pakistan, and dropped catches are part of the game.

Left-arm seamer Mir Hamza was on a hat-trick in his fourth Test after the wickets of David Warner and Travis Head in the second session on day three. Picture: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

It’s OK,” he said when asked if the bowlers wanted to see a change in personnel behind the wicket.

Hamza, 31, who made his Test debut against Australia in 2018 but had to wait more than four years for another chance at the top level, said his breakthrough performance to claim 3-27 from 16 overs in the second innings was a dream come true.

The left-armer left the MCG crowd stunned when he followed the chop-on wicket of David Warner with a superb inswinging delivery that demolished Travis Head’s stumps.

“It was a dream for me, playing in Melbourne and playing against one of the best teams, Australia, and to give two breakthroughs in one over for my team,” he said.

“Playing after a long time … to be very honest, I was talking to myself that I have to prove myself if I want to play international cricket for my country.

“If you see my last three matches, I bowled well but I didn’t take wickets for my team. In this game, I always wanted to take wickets for my team.”