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Mitchell Marsh has been talked about as a potential option to play in the tail end of the Ashes series but the veteran allrounder has decided to give red-ball cricket the flick.
After playing his first Sheffield Shield match last week for Western Australian since last October, the 34-year-old has told teammates that he intends to retire from first-class cricket.
Marsh later confirmed he would be stepping away from Shield cricket but has left the door open for a Test recall if the national selectors need him to fill a role.
Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed Marsh was still available for Test cricket.
“He’ll be available for Test selection [this season] yes,” McDonald said. “I don’t want to put words in Mitch’s mouth, but if he’s retired from first-class cricket he would potentially look at Test cricket retirement also at the end of the season.”
The WACA issued a statement with Marsh saying: “It has been an honour to play Sheffield Shield cricket for WA..
“Right now I am deeply committed to the group and the Scorchers. WA cricket has been a huge part of my life and I plan to give back in any way possible long into the future.”
He has played just nine mtaches for WA in the past six years and he managed just nine and four with the bat in the loss at the MCG to Victoria on Sunday, batting at first drop in the opening innings and then four in the second dig after Corey Rocchiccioli went in ahead of him as a nightwatcher.
WA used seven bowlers in the match but Marsh did not roll the arm over.
McDonald had nominated Marsh prior to the Ashes series that he was someone that they were monitoring even though he primarily played white-ball formats these days.
Marsh had been mentioned as a potential surprise selection for the second Test at the Gabba or a call-up for next Wednesday’s third match at Adelaide Oval if he succeeded in his rare WA appearance.
But now it appears he will no longer concern himself with the longer formats and concentrate on representing Australia in the T20 and ODI squads while also playing franchise cricket around the globe.
Marsh played for Lucknow in the IPL earlier this year and has also turned out for the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket.
Mitchell Marsh. (Photo by Andy Kearns/Getty Images)
His decision all but ends any chance of him representing Australia in Tests again after 46 matches in the baggy green cap in which he scored 2083 runs at 28.53 with three hundreds as well as 51 wickets at 40.41 with a single five-wicket haul of 5-46 against England at The Oval in 2019.
Marsh was dropped after that match and did not play a Test again until he was recalled midway through the 2023 Ashes tour when he scored a memorable century at Leeds.
He was dumped after the MCG Test last year against India following a run of low scores, replaced by Beau Webster.
Mitch embodies everything about what it means to be a Sheffield Shield player for Western Australia,” state coach Adam Voges said.
“From playing alongside him to coaching him in more recent times, he’s given his all for his state.
“It’s been a privilege to watch him progress from Sheffield Shield to being a very successful player at international level for Australia.
“He’s an outstanding character on and off the field and it’s been a pleasure to play a part in his journey.”