New Delhi: Mitchell Marsh insists he is fit enough to bowl long spells in the third Test against India at Adelaide that begins on Saturday after being protected in the first two matches due to fitness concerns.
He suffered from stiffness that saw his bowling activity deliberately being curtailed in Perth and Adelaide. Marsh said that his limited overs was always part of the team’s plan, keeping in mind the five-match Border Gavaskar series.
“I had a sore back, but right now it’s feeling as good as it has felt,” the all-rounder said on Thursday.
“We had a really clear plan before the series started. I didn’t bowl as much as I would have liked to in the lead-up to the series, but our medical staff and Ronnie (coach Andrew McDonald) and Patty (captain Pat Cummins) were really clear on my lead-up.
“I trusted that. I haven’t had to bowl too much so far, but my body is feeling really good.”
Marsh said that his body is fine and is ready to withstand the rigours of bowling in red-ball cricket and there is no need to ration his bowling quota going into the third Test.
“I will try and be ready to bowl as much as Patty needs me. Our all-rounders haven’t bowled a hell of a lot in Australia the last few years,” he said.
“I am really well placed. For me it is all about being able to contribute. Whether that is five overs and bowling the occasional good ball and getting a wicket or just bowling overs to give our boys a chop out, I love it.”
‘No worries over Smith’
Australia’s batting wasn’t at their best in the opening Test and the day night Test though they won bounced back to square the series 1-1.
Their topmost batter Steve Smith couldn’t get going in both the matches though Marsh isn’t worried about his form, expressing confidence in his ability to return to his heavy-scoring ways.
“I don’t think he has to do anything to show he is Steve Smith. We know he is one of our best players ever and we are certainly backing him to get a few runs. I am probably not in position to be telling Smith how he takes the way he needs to work on,” Marsh said.
“We know he (Smith) is a class player and scored a lot of runs for Australia and certainly at times when we have needed, he seems to have stepped up and certainly he has got full faith in his mind.”
Marsh said that his limited bowling activity in the first two Tests was always part of the team’s plan Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
