Mitchell Marsh fronted the media in Perth wearing Australia’s new lemon-yellow kit, keen to talk about the one-day series against India and little else. The first question, inevitably, was about the Ashes. With Pat Cummins resting and a couple of Test batters under injury clouds, does Marsh fancy a recall?
“I’ve got tickets to day one and two. Haven’t asked the wife yet, so that’s about as much thought as I’ve given it,” he grinned. Typical Marsh ‑ a laugh, a shrug, end of conversation. Still, the fact he keeps being asked says plenty about the current state of Australian cricket.
Those three ODIs – plus the T20s that follow – have been labelled a warm-up act for next winter’s Ashes. Yet they matter in their own right. We’re halfway to the 2027 World Cup, Australia are the reigning champions, and the side looks patched together. Since lifting the trophy they have won five of 12 ODIs, tried 25 players and are still hunting the right balance.
This week the batting looks light again. Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have retired from the format, leaving a power-hitting hole. Josh Inglis (calf) is out of the opener, Alex Carey is playing Sheffield Shield, and Cameron Green has been withdrawn after a low-grade side strain. “He’s okay, it’s on the very, very minor end. It’s a cautious take on it but he’s all good,” Marsh said of his Western Australia team-mate.
Marnus Labuschagne has been flown in as cover but will not play in Perth after spending 18 hours in economy to get here. Instead the selectors are ready to debut two more names: Matt Renshaw, who has rebuilt his game at Brisbane Heat, and Hobart all-rounder Mitch Owen. Wicketkeeper Josh Philippe, last capped in 2021, returns behind the stumps. All three trained under a harsh sun at the WACA yesterday; all three looked a touch jet-lagged, though Philippe, at least, appears familiar with the bounce.
“Across the board in our white-ball teams over the last 12 month, we’ve seen a lot of guys get opportunities, so it always brings excitement to those guys,” Marsh said. He used the phrase “white-ball fun” more than once, a reminder that despite official vice-captain status he remains Australia’s resident mood-booster.
The player most likely to benefit is Matt Short. Two years ago the Victorian reinvented himself as a powerplay dasher in the BBL; injuries, then an untimely lean patch, kept him on the fringes. He has recovered from a broken thumb, scored a rapid 134 for Victoria last week, and should slot in at No.3. That is not his preferred role – he likes the brand-new ball – but with Marsh and Travis Head settled up top, Short’s best route is to adapt quickly.
Bowling stocks are thinner than usual, too. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are being managed for the Ashes, while Nathan Ellis is still nursing a side niggle. Sean Abbott and Kane Richardson, experienced but not automatic picks, will share the new ball. Spencer Johnson, the left-arm quick who impressed at The Hundred, could be the X-factor if conditions suit. India have picked a near-full-strength squad, so accuracy will matter as much as pace.
Former selector Mark Waugh, speaking on local radio, warned against reading too much into results. “This period is about information,” he said. “By March next year the selectors need to know who bats at four and who bowls the 48th over. The win-loss record is secondary.” Not everyone agrees. WA coach Adam Voges believes momentum is real. “Keep losing and habits form,” he told reporters. “The best Australian sides I played in hated conceding anything, even a warm-up drill.”
India, meanwhile, landed in Perth with the kind of calm depth Australia currently envy. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will rest the first ODI but could return later in the week; Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and the ever-evolving Suryakumar Yadav remain formidable. Jasprit Bumrah – back from a long injury lay-off – was first into the nets yesterday, hooping the new ball and smiling broadly. “From what we’ve seen, he’s bowling rockets again,” Abbott admitted.
All of it leaves Marsh juggling immediate needs and long-term planning. He spoke warmly about captaincy – Cummins will return for the home Tests but is off duty here – yet emphasised simplicity. “We just have to be really clear on their role and they will enjoy playing cricket for Australia,” he said. Clarity has been thin on the ground in Australian ODI cricket of late; three matches against India is not much time to find it, but it is a start.
One last Ashes enquiry slipped in before the press manager called time. Marsh laughed again, shook his head, and walked away. Tickets for days one and two at Lord’s might yet go unused.
