Australia’s Mitchell Marsh stated Thursday there have been instances he thought “he might not get back” after he ended a four-year absence from the Test area with a scintillating Ashes hundred.
Marsh’s run-a-ball 118 was the centrepiece of Australia’s 263 on the opening day of the third Test at Headingley and the all-rounder then dismissed Zak Crawley as England threatened to rebuild after dropping two early wickets.
The 31-year-old Marsh is in Australia’s tour squad as cowl for Cameron Green, who was dominated out of this match with a hamstring pressure.
“On a long tour you always get a chance at some stage, I just wanted to stay ready,” Marsh instructed reporters after stumps. “It was a bit of a surprise and very unfortunate for Greeny.”
Marsh joked that, resulting from his understudy position, he was the “first man to score an Ashes hundred on a UK holiday”.
He added: “There’s always times when you spend a bit of time away from the game where you think you might not get back.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work, I chose to have ankle surgery and miss last summer to get on this tour knowing I was going to be Greeny’s understudy. I’m really proud to get back.”
When requested how he maintained his morale whereas out of the Australia workforce, Marsh pointed to his Baggy Green cap and stated: “I wanted to wear it one more time.”
‘Evenly poised’
Australia’s second-highest rating was Travis Head’s 39, highlighting the significance of Marsh’s century in an innings the place England quick bowler Mark Wood ripped by way of the batting line-up.
Marsh credited his upbringing on the onerous wickets of Western Australia for popping out on prime towards specific fast Wood.
Marsh stated he “could lean on my experience of growing up at the WACA (the Western Australia Cricket Association ground in Perth) against fast bowling, sink or swim from a very early age.”
But he wouldn’t be drawn on his possibilities of taking part in the following Test in Manchester, joking: “I wouldn’t mind going back to my UK holiday, to be honest.”
England closed on 68-3, with Marsh saying the sport was “pretty evenly poised”.
At 2-0 down with three to play, Wood stored the host’s Ashes hopes alive with one of many quickest recorded spells of bowling in a Test in England.
The 33-year-old averaged 90.5 mph (145.6 kph) whereas taking 5-34 in 11.4 overs and cleaned up the tail with a burst of 4-5 in 16 balls in what was the injury-blighted Durham fast’s first match this sequence.
“I knew I had a good rhythm, was bowling fast,” stated Wood. “That first spell in particular, that’s as good as I’ve felt at home in an England shirt.”
Wood clocked a prime velocity of 96.5 mph, however performed down solutions he may hit the magic 100 mph determine with a beneficial tailwind.
“No, I don’t think so, it would have to be a bloody strong wind.”
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com