Going against his initial plans to stay out of red ball cricket in December, Mitch Marsh returned to play his first Sheffield Shield game since October 2024 as his beloved Western Australia look to hand top-of-the-table Victoria just their second loss of the season whilst arresting their own slide down to last place on the table.
There was speculation leading into the match that Marsh could be a bolter for the back-end of the Ashes series as a potential opening batter - a role he fulfils for Australia's limited overs team - which was momentarily put to bed when he was listed to bat at three for WA on Thursday morning.
Victoria sent the Western Australians in to bat on a green MCG pitch and Marsh found himself out in the middle within 25 minutes after Sam Whiteman was caught behind by a vicious Mitch Perry delivery that spat up off a good length and kissed the outside shoulder of his bat.
Marsh played two sumptuous pull shots in front of square against the fast bowling of Perry, delighting even the sparse number of Victorian spectators at the MCG, before recklessly nicking off to wicketkeeper Sam Harper after walking down the pitch at Perry.
The Australian Test side could be looking for a new opener in a matter of weeks if the inexperienced Jake Weatherald is unable to get his new career off to the right start, with Marsh remaining a live option if he can bounce back in the second dig.
