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Mitch Marsh eyed to take charge of Australia’s white-ball team

Allrounder Mitch Marsh has the form to lead and win, says WA coach Adam Voges.

Allrounder Mitch Marsh has the form to lead and win, says WA coach Adam Voges. Photo: AAP

Adam Voges has backed Mitch Marsh to take on the national white-ball captaincy, having seen first-hand that his Western Australia skipper can cope with the workload.

Australia will next month play their first Twenty20 International since last year’s World Cup against South Africa, and are yet to formally replace the retired Aaron Finch as captain.

A new one-day international skipper is also likely to be required soon, with Pat Cummins expected to hand over the reins in that format after this year’s World Cup.

Marsh is one of Australia’s few genuine options.

He is a fixture in the T20 and ODI teams, and is still listed as Western Australia’s captain under coach Voges, having been appointed to the role by Justin Langer in 2017.

“Mitch is a great option,” Voges told AAP.

“You know he will be in the team. He has captaincy experience and history for a period of time now.

“We don’t get to see him too much these days (in the WA side), so he doesn’t do it for us now but he is certainly capable.

“If anything, I would have thought his leadership and captaincy credentials have only increased by being part of that vacuum and environment (with Australia).”

Marsh has long been viewed as a potential leader by Cricket Australia, and was named as one of Tim Paine’s vice-captains after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

His maturity was on show again on Saturday as he soaked up 107 balls for his unbeaten 31 in his second match back in the side, to keep Australia in the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester.

Marsh ruled himself out of the race for Australia’s one-day captaincy last summer but that came amid concerns over his fitness and with ankle surgery looming.

It is likely it would be a different story if the 31-year-old were approached this time.

The other concern would be the allrounder’s workload, given he would be a strong chance to open following David Warner’s retirement, while still operating as a bowler.

“That’s his biggest challenge, managing all that workload,” Voges said.

“To be the genuine allrounder in the team and captain is a lot.

“But the reason they would be confident in him being able to handle that is the maturity he has now.

“He is as well placed to be able to handle those demands as he has ever been.

“No doubt it is a big workload, but he is well prepared and ready for that.”

Beyond Marsh, Australia’s other options looked limited: Steve Smith, Ashton Agar, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa and the fast bowlers are the only regulars in both white-ball teams.

Smith has the most captaincy experience of that group, but he would be 38 by the time of the next one-day World Cup in 2027.

-AAP

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