The AUS vs IND T20Is will begin on October 29.
Australia have recently adopted a gung-ho approach in the T20I format and go hard right from the start. They have employed all attacking batters and more all-rounders in the lineup, with the idea of hitting boundaries right from the first ball. Their captain, Mitchell Marsh, has been at the centre of all the evolution, as a batter and captain.
He has always been among the most ferocious hitters of the ball, but his recent development has made him more consistent than ever. Since opening the innings, Marsh has become a ruthless T20 batter and formed a successful opening partnership with Travis Head for Australia. The two have brought aggression and consistency simultaneously.
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Mitchell Marsh has started opening the innings regularly this year and has shown another dimension to his game. He has scored 994 runs at an average of 45.18 and a strike rate of 164.02 in 24 innings, including eight fifties and two centuries. He started opening in IPL, and success in the competition confirmed his promotion to the top for Australia.
In the powerplay, he has a strike rate of 156.16 and a balls-per-boundary ratio of 4.06 this year. Marsh has always been ruthless against pace, but his spin game has seen notable progress. Last year, he averaged a mere 14.28 and struck at 123.45 against slow bowlers, but both have surged to 101 and 150.74, respectively, this year.
He now hits a boundary every 4.78 deliveries and plays only 33.83% of dot balls. His improved spin game has been one of the reasons behind his immense rise, for the opponent can’t contain him by any means. That has also helped him attain the consistency which was missing before.
Several factors are going into Mitchell Marsh’s favour for the T20I series against India. Firstly, he has been a form player who thrives on momentum and often plays several match-winning knocks when in his groove. Additionally, the pitches will suit his playing style because they will be quick and bouncy, easy for shot-making.
Marsh has never had issues against high pace, and now that the pitches have gone flat, he is unlikely to be troubled. Pacers’ off-pace deliveries won’t grip much into the surface, and since he opens the innings, there will be field restrictions. Moreover, spinners will get little purchase, and Marsh’s improved expertise will further negate their threat.
There has been a drastic change in his game, for he now plays longer innings and ensures making the most when set. For instance, he has 10 50+ scores this year compared to seven in the previous three years combined. So, he is now more consistent and plays longer innings more often.
India have a quality bowling attack, but Marsh has been unstoppable. The limelight might be on the likes of Travis Head and Tim David, but he might do the most damage. For India, the key will be to send him back as early as possible to avoid carnage.
He played a match-winning knock in the 1st ODI too, scoring an unbeaten 46 off 52 and grabbed the Player of the Match award. After two more ODIs, the AUS vs IND T20Is will begin on October 29 in Canberra. Melbourne and Hobart will host the next two T20Is on October 31 and November 2.
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