24 October - Delhi - Australia player Mitch Marsh pre-match press conference
[Reporter:]
Congratulations on that record-breaking knock and the partnership. So how much did the previous bilateral series help you? You nearly made 100 in that series as well. So how much did that help you for this World Cup campaign, personally speaking, that recent bilateral series in India?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, it was obviously nice to get a few runs at the back end of that series. And, yeah, came into the tournament feeling pretty confident. Had a bit of a slow start, but it's been really nice to contribute to a couple of wins over the last two games.
[Reporter:]
Mitch, how is Travis Head from your perspective? Do you know if he's available for this game? And what have you seen from him?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, I think that decision will be made this afternoon/tonight. He looked good, a bit of range hitting last night. He says the hand feels good. So, I'm sure if he's fit, he'll be available for selection in the team.
[Reporter:]
I'm not sure if you saw Steve Smith get hit in the nets last night. But how was he, and what did you make of that?
[Mitch Marsh:]
I didn't. I read your article this morning, actually. So that was the first I heard of it probably go to show how bad it was bit of carry on from Smudge [Steve Smith] as normal. But yeah, for my reports. He's absolutely fine
[Reporter:]
Just on so you mentioned that - Trav, so at some point he's going to come back into the team, right, and you're going to go back down to number three, presumably, you know, how does that kind of change your outlook on things coming off a pretty good knock in our last innings?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, I mentioned to David Warner, maybe he can bat three, but I got a firm no from him, so that's being sarcastic there guys. But yeah, very happy to go back down to three. I've obviously batted there a lot over the last couple of years, so I feel really comfortable at three. And if and when Heady comes back in, I think that's the best position for me to play for this team.
[Reporter:]
And just wondering about the air quality, Mitch. Like when you were training out there last night, did you kind of notice a bit of a difference? And have you guys discussed any measures you can take to overcome it?
[Mitch Marsh:]
No. I think the only time I'm affected by the air quality is when my golf ball goes up in the air and I can't see it but apart from that absolutely, no stress in mind.
[Reporter:]
Mitch the World Cup is only about halfway through but we have already seen at least three results which would classify as big upsets. So, do you think that the gap between what we call the top teams and the so-called lesser teams is lessening or how do you explain it?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, teams have got better. I think that's great for world cricket, certainly in tournaments like this that can sometimes be pretty long. And you see a lot of games that are not exactly close or competitive. But we've said it multiple times now in this tournament this year, there's absolutely no easy games. And you go into every game having done all the appropriate homework and hopefully you can come out with a win. So, tomorrow is no different for us. We respect the Netherlands; they're playing some good cricket and that will be a tough challenge.
[Reporter:]
You spoke after that 96 in the ODI series your disappointment about not getting to three figures Can you talk us through? What was sort of running through your head when you did bring up the three figures and the relief maybe that you were feeling that point in time
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, it's not so much relief. There's a fair bit of emotion in it. World Cup's are very special for you to be a part of, and there's no doubt that there's different pressures that come with playing that compared to a bilateral series. So, yeah, I was really excited to be able to make 100 for Australia, to have a partnership with Davey, and most importantly, after our start to the tournament, just contribute to win. So, yeah, it was a great feeling.
[Reporter:]
And just on that knock it was raised on social media that you're wearing the cap number of your brother Sean Marsh. Yeah. Is that a deliberate move and can you talk us through that?
[Mitch Marsh:]
No, I've asked a couple of times to get my number on my cap and they keep sending me Shaun's number. So, everyone here calls me Shaun anyway, so it works out well.
[Reporter:]
First question, In the previous match against Pakistan, Australia was in a very commanding position, 250-something for no loss, and then after the openers were dismissed, 367 was the final score. There was a collapse of sorts. Is this something that the team has addressed after the match?
[Mitch Marsh:]
I think individually everyone would have addressed that. To be honest I thought Pakistan bowled really well and gave us a bit of a blueprint on how to go about it certainly towards the back end of the inning so they're a very good outfit and we were able to get on top of them in the first half of the innings, but they came back strongly, and you expect that from teams like Pakistan. So, we'll address it, and hopefully moving forward, we can have a great last 10 overs and apply some pressure to other teams.
[Reporter:]
And my second question, unfortunately, yesterday, news broke that the former Indian spin great Bishan Singh Bedi is no more. Any words on Bishan?
[Mitch Marsh:]
No words, obviously very sad and thinking of him and his family and everyone involved.
[Reporter:]
Mitch, there were some headlines overnight, which I'm sure you read because you clearly read widely, about Jonny Bairstow sort of re-opening some wounds from the Asher series and Lords and widening it to a few other catches. Is it a talking point in the squad and what's the reaction, your reaction, and the reaction generally?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, I think at this point it seems like a lifetime ago with how much cricket we've played since and we're really focused on the World Cup. There's obviously always going to be chat when it comes to Australia and England, and things will always come back up over the years. But right now, we're solely focused on tomorrow and the World Cup.
[Reporter:]
Mitch, you've always had opinions on how the rest of Australia perceives you, but you've always been a really popular member of this side I mean David Warner was celebrating your hundred more than his own. What do you think you put it down to like why are you so popular and what does it feel like to be that popular?
[Mitch Marsh:]
I'll see you in the bar tonight. No. Oh, look, I think I don't really know how to answer that. Yeah, I'm very passionate about playing cricket for Australia. I love my teammates, love winning. That's probably as simple as I keep it, I guess.
[Reporter:]
Just on your batting evolution in the last two years, Mitch, as the Australian representative here, I get asked about it all the time, so I thought I'd ask you, so what have you done differently? Have you done anything differently at all? Or is it everything to do with your mindset, and that's the only thing?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, I mean, I've still worked hard for a long period of time to hopefully keep improving. And there's no doubt that I've had probably more opportunities at the top of the order and more time to bat in the white ball format. Not a whole lot's changed, I've just probably not given up on the fact that I was striving for something and kept working hard through periods of time that were tougher than others. In the last couple of years, I feel as I've been as consistent as I have been, which was something that I was always striving for. I guess all the best players in the world that you look up to, and certainly in our team, they're so consistent. And that's what I was.
[Reporter:]
You guys have already lost a couple of matches. While the Netherlands are riding on high confidence the type that they have been showing this tournament.
You guys will be a bit under of pressure compared to the Netherlands, as a lot will be at stake for you in terms of semi-final race?
[Mitch Marsh:]
I think every game from here on is really important for every team that's in the World Cup. We've seen some teams that have lost a couple. And as I said earlier, there's no easy games in this World Cup. And whoever holds that trophy in a couple of weeks' time will deserving winners, because every game's high pressure. It's a World Cup. You're playing in front of the amazing Indian fans that are so passionate. And it's been a great experience. But yeah, every game there's high pressure and high stakes.
[Reporter:]
Mitchell, Travis Head has joined the team and he's practicing so Can we see Travis Head tomorrow playing in the 11 and if yes, then who will be replaced?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, it's a good question I'm not sure who he'll replace at this stage, but I presume that if he's fit and he gets through today that he'll play, but that decision will be made tonight.
[Reporter:]
This has been a very long season for the Australian cricket team, right from the tour of India at the beginning of the year and you have been playing high profile series. How difficult is it on body and mentally to play such a long World Cup and then you being pushed back up front in the World Cup. How difficult is it for you to cope with this grind that you have been going through from February? And what does it take when every match, as you said, has become very crucial for you at this point and playing that ruthless brand of cricket of Australia? How difficult is that for you mentally to do that? Since that you have gone through a lot, this team as a bunch has gone through a lot.
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, I think it's been spoken about a lot for a lot of teams. And I feel as though the schedule and the amount of cricket played is the same for every team that's here. India probably play the most cricket out of anyone. And I guess from our point of view and from my point of view, it's leaning on experience of the past. We've got a team full of a lot of experience at the moment, guys who've played 12 months of the year for the last probably six or seven years. So, we're not in unfamiliar territory and the vibe in our team whilst we had a slow start and we were put under pressure at times, The vibe's great. We've played really good cricket the last two games and hopefully that's the case tomorrow. So, there's a big carrot dangling for us in a couple of weeks' time. Our vibe's high. We're playing good cricket now and We're looking forward to tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
Have you had a chat with your father after that 100 the partnership with Warner- your father and David Boon, used to have a lot of partnerships like that. Did you have a chat with him about that partnership in particular?
[Mitch Marsh:]
Yeah, that partnership would have taken four days to get that many. So no, my dad's a man of few words. He was very happy for us. And we always chat after every game, so he was pumped.
