Mitch Marsh has signalled an intention to lead from the front in a bid to win a fourth World Cup next March, with the powerful all-rounder planning to partner Travis Head in T20s over the next six months.

Fresh from a dominant tour of the Caribbean, where Marsh opened alongside Jake Fraser-McGurk initially and then Glenn Maxwell, the Western Australian will partner the returning Head for the series against South Africa beginning in Darwin on Sunday.

Australia will unveil the new opening combination in three T20s and three one-day internationals against the Proteas, who up-ended the Aussies World Test Championship defence at Lord’s in June, in the Top End and Far North Queensland over the next fortnight.

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The Proteas also reached the final of the most recent T20 World Cup in the Caribbean last June, a tournament where Australia failed to reach the semi-finals, but the South African squad has changed markedly since then.

Marsh is averaging 16.33 in six innings at the top of the order, which is 21 runs fewer than his success at No.3 in 40 innings.

But with Australia holding a surplus of big hitters capable of batting at first drop, he believes he can enjoy success at the top with Head given their previous experience opening together in one-day internationals, where they average over 50 as an opening combination.

“It’ll be myself and Heady up the top for the foreseeable future. Obviously we’ve played a lot together (and) we have got a great relationship, so we will start there,” he said.

The return of Head comes amid a certain selection squeeze for the T20 World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka and India next February and March, with several inform batters and bowlers vying to hold their spots.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 12: Travis Head and Mitch Marsh, pictured in Perth in 2023, will open the batting together in the upcoming T20 series in the Top End and Far North Queensland. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The Aussies were able to reel in the West Indies in every match in the Caribbean without Head and the champion trio of fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with the latter returning to action against South Africa this month.

With a surplus of all-rounders, both Cooper Connolly and Aaron Hardie have been overlooked for this series, though Marsh did note that he will not be available to bowl as he takes a cautious approach following back issues that troubled him earlier this year.

“For me, the bowling is currently offline, but it is certainly not offline forever,” he said.

“At this stage it will be series by series (and) we have plenty of options. We have 15 games to the World Cup, so we will keep working on the style we want to play (and) make sure our guys are enjoying every bit of it.”

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Another all-rounder Matt Short will miss the opening two games of this series as he recovers from a side strain that forced him out of the West Indies T20 tour.

The Aussies dominated that series, with players including Maxwell and Josh Inglis, who has declared he wants to bat permanently at No.3 in the shortest form of the game, excelling when batting further up the order.

Cameron Green excelled in both the Tests and T20 format in the Caribbean, while Tim David scored Australia’s fastest ever T20 century and Mitch Owen also excelled when given the opportunity to bat for longer than usual.

“We’ve spoken about (promoting Tim David). We saw that in the Caribbean (when) he came in earlier than he would normally,” he said.

“His skill set is made for that. The more balls he faces, hopefully the more games he wins us.”

As a result of Marsh partnering Head with a view to the World Cup, Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey foreshadowed Matt Short becoming a middle-order candidate as well based on the brilliance Owen and David batted with in the West Indies.

“We have seen Shorty at the top have some success there, (but) it is reasonably cluttered up there,” the Australian chairman of selectors said.

“I think Shorty has some experience in the middle (order). I think that is a capability that, at different times, (we) will try and grow out.”

Marsh said the selection squeeze was a good thing as it enabled Australia to trial talented short-form cricketers in a number of roles.

“As a group leading into the World Cup the messaging has been about requiring guys to be flexible,” the Aussie skipper said.

“Any good T20 side has guys that can play a number of roles. We started that really well in the West Indies and hopefully that continues.”

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 08: Australia team captain Mitch Marsh speaks to the media during a media opportunity ahead of the Men’s T20 series between Australia and South Africa at Marrara Stadium on August 08, 2025 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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Marcus Stoinis, who is playing for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, has missed selection for Australia for the past two series after being a long-term fixture in national white ball sides.

But the veteran remains a prospect for the World Cup given his success for Australia in previous big tournaments, according to Bailey.

“He remains firmly in the plans because of his skill set. Having those power hitters who can also bowl you some handy overs … we saw how valuable that (was in the West Indies),” Bailey said.

“I don’t think that’s going to diminish. I imagine once we get closer to picking that squad, his name will be firmly in the mix.”

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 08: Australia team captain Mitch Marsh and South Africa team captain Aiden Markram pose for a photo during a media opportunity ahead of the Men’s T20 series between Australia and South Africa at Marrara Stadium on August 08, 2025 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Aiden Markram, who proved the hero alongside Temba Bavuma in the WTC Final at Lord’s, will skipper a South African team that is without stars including the retired Quinton de Kock and injured pair Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje from the 2024 World Cup.

But he is excited about a squad that includes Dewald Brevis, who has been nicknamed “Baby AB” given some similarities to South African great AB de Villiers, who was in London for the WTC Final.

“(They are) explosive and fearless. To be or 19-20 again (would be great),” Markram said.

“There’s not many worries in the world when you are that age. And it reflects on them in the way they train and how you see them operate.

“It is exciting and a great opportunity for us to see what they’re about and allow them to entertain.”

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