Mitch Marsh made it look very easy against India on Sunday night at Optus Stadium — but that is simply not the case.
The Australian captain opened the batting against India and carried his bat in Australia’s chase of 131 runs from 26 overs in a rain-interrupted game.
The all-rounder found it easier to handle the Indian pace attack than a cramp treatment supplement that he took with the finish line in sight.
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The 33-year-old was completely undone when Marnus Labuschagne carried out pickle juice and another form of cramp treatment after the Aussie skipper had signalled to the dressing room in the previous over.
Fox Cricket commentators noticed Marsh had pulled up lame scampering through for a single before pointing to his legs towards the dressing room.
According to Fox Cricket analyst Michael Hussey, Marsh told the umpire: “It’s either cramp or I’ve done both my calves”.
You can watch his anguish in the video player above.
Marsh was on 33 after 17 overs with Australia cruising at 3/102 when he needed some help.
Unfortunately, the cure appeared to be worse than the disease when he consumed a second supplement after already drinking cramp-treating pickle juice.
He appeared to consume a second gel liquid from a sachet when his face turned violently ill.
“F*** me,” he was heard saying.
“What’s in that? F*** me.”
His reaction has Labuschagne giggling as he walked back to the pavilion.
At least the treatment did the job with Marsh scampering through for a single without any distressing the next over.
The moment had Fox Cricket commentators chortling into their microphones.
“He (Labuschagne) has laced it with something,” Adam Gilchrist said.
Marsh was all smiles after Australia completed the run chase.
The larrikin character said it’s nice to end a hoodoo, having finally won Australia’s first One Day International at Optus Stadium on their fourth attempt.
The Aussies had previously lost at the Perth venue to England (2018), South Africa (2018) and Pakistan (2024)
“It’s nice to get a win. I think we were 0-3 here, so we’re away,” Marsh said.
“It’s nice as a team to get that hoodoo off our back.”
He finished unbeaten on 46 runs from 52 balls, hitting three sixes and only two boundaries.
Spinner Matt Kuhnemann labelled Marsh’s match-winning innings as ‘mature’, saying he is a terrific leader.
“I think it was really mature,” he said.
“I think it was a really good captain’s knock.
“So, it wasn’t easy out there against the new ball. We saw their innings and our innings.
“So, I thought the way he went about it was really mature.
“It’s really impressive to see what he did in New Zealand and come here and sort of played sort of both innings, like fast and slow.
“He’s a great leader in this in this team.”
Marsh was dominant in the T20 series in New Zealand earlier this month, scoring 197 runs from three innings, including an unbeaten 103 in the final game.
Marsh also enjoyed a terrific ODI series against South Africa in August, with innings of 88, 18 and 100.
Australia needs to win one of the remaining two clashes to win the series, having lost their past three.
And he expects India to bounce back in Adelaide on Thursday.
“I think they’ll come back real strong,” he said.
“They’re a world class team, and it’s going to be a great series, I think, with the one dayers and the T20s.”
Kuhnemann was added to the ODI team for the India series with Adam Zampa being unavailable due to personal reasons.
He was terrific with the ball, taking 2-20 from his four overs, with the wickets of Axar Patel, who was just starting to get going, and Washington Sundar.
But he’s likely to be relegated to the bench for the second game of the series in Adelaide, with Zampa expected to return.
And Kuhnemann is ok with that, knowing that his time will come.
“I’m used to it,” he said.
“I think being able to traveling with the red ball team and running drinks there, and sort of just learning my way, I love traveling with this team.
“And you never know when conditions might suit two spinners.
“So, yeah, I’m always happy to be part of his team and learning and growing as a player.”
Kuhnemann, 29, has now played just five ODI matches since debuting in 2022, taking eight wickets.
He has also played one T20 match and has 25 wickets in five Test match appearances.
— with NewsWire
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