Ahead of last week’s series opener against Pakistan in Perth, Mitchell Marsh decided to grow a moustache.
It wasn’t a fashion statement, nor a belated contribution to Movember; the Australian all-rounder confessed his wife wasn’t a fan of the facial hair, or the mullet for that matter.
He just wanted to look more like his favourite cricketer — Travis Head.
“The mo is just trying to be like Heady,” Marsh laughed when asked about the moustache.
Marsh isn’t alone. Head’s heroics during this year’s World Test Championship final and World Cup final made him an immediate fan favourite, but Marsh hasn’t only been mimicking the South Australian through his facial hair.
Since returning to the Test side this year, Marsh has scored at a rapid tempo in the five-day format, boasting a strike rate of 73.40, a drastic increase from the 50.68 strike rate during his previous 32 Tests.
During the series opener at Perth Stadium, the hometown hero’s belligerent 90 and unbeaten 63 came at nearly a run-a-ball, edging out centurion David Warner for player of the match honours. His counterattacking approach to batting in the middle order mirrored what Head has achieved in the Test side since the start of the 2021/22 Ashes series, scoring at a strike rate of 79.20 during that period.
“The way I went about (batting in Perth) was the way I want to play my cricket,” Marsh declared last week.
“In my last four Test matches I’ve really found my way, and who I am as a Test cricketer. I’m loving it.”
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Marsh has made a conscious effort to play to his strengths, a considerable change in mindset from the early stages of his Test career.
Previously, the West Australian seemed hellbent on batting like a traditional Test cricketer, trying to replicate teammates Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja. Instead, he became hesitant, defensive and reluctant to attack deliveries in his hitting zone.
“I tried to play the long innings and play like Steve Smith and Davey and Uzzie and all those guys that come bat for six hours,” Marsh explained.
“I don’t necessarily have the technique of Smudge and Marnus (Labuschagne), where they can defend and leave and defend and leave for hours and get through those periods.”
Since his unforgettable Ashes century at Headingley, Marsh has played with a level of freedom and confidence that was noticeably lacking earlier in his career. He has unearthed his own DNA for Test batting, one that closely resembles Head.
“I know that when I show really good intent that I move better and I can defend good balls, but ultimately I can put pressure back onto other teams,” Marsh said.
“I just wanted to come back into this Test team and be really true to myself.”
Test batting strike rate since June 2023
76.34 – Travis Head
73.40 – Mitchell Marsh
62.32 – David Warner
53.59 – Steve Smith
52.40 – Alex Carey
44.45 – Marnus Labuschagne
40.00 – Usman Khawaja
38.28 – Cameron Green
Marsh’s resurgence as Australia’s premier all-rounder can be partly attributed to the ‘own your space’ mantra that has defined the Cummins-McDonald era; players are entrusted with preparing themselves for Test cricket however they best deem fit, subsequently taking responsibility for their successes and failures.
Nobody has benefited from this more than Head and Marsh, who were both dropped on multiple occasions during Justin Langer’s tenure as national coach.
“I’ve said that numerous times now, but I’m thankful for Pat and Ronnie for helping me get to this point,” Marsh continued.
“I’ve found a method that works … hopefully I can stay nice and consistent with the way I’m playing and keep contributing.”
The No. 6 spot is Marsh’s for the foreseeable future. Perhaps for the first time in his career, he enters the Boxing Day Test without the lingering fear of being dropped.
“I don’t necessarily feel like I’ll ever own a spot in the team, but I feel blessed to have been given another opportunity and I’m just thoroughly enjoying it,” Marsh said.
“I’ve got a really clear role that allows me to just be myself and hopefully I can hang around for a little bit longer.”
Marsh’s worth in the Test side goes beyond statistics and batting averages; he’s potentially the most popular figure within the changeroom, and he’s slowly winning over the Australian fanbase as well.
Not long ago, Marsh was the laughing stock of Australian cricket; during the 2019 Ashes campaign, he claimed most of Australia hated him because of his inconsistent performances in the Test arena.
Despite the relentless criticism and mockery, Marsh has always radiated positivity within the national set-up, whether that be through impromptu air guitar solos during rain delays or organising morning coffee runs for team bonding. He always jumps at an opportunity to praise his teammates, batting away compliments with self-deprecation and humour.
“He’s that guy that the culture sort of resolves around,” former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey told foxsports.com.au.
“He’s just so happy for everyone else in the team. He’ll do anything for anyone.
“He loves winning, he loves that teammateship, and they are all the ingredients of a guy that you want right in the middle of that team, because it just brings everyone together and tighter.
“That’s why I think he’s so valuable to the team from that respect, but it’s also been great to see his game go to another level. He’s playing with a real confidence in himself, belief that he can can dominate at this level.”
The second Test between Australia and Pakistan gets underway at the MCG on Boxing Day, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEDT.
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