Australia’s veteran all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has reportedly taken a major decision on his red-ball career amid the five-match Test series against England. Marsh informed his Western Australia teammates that he planned to step away from first-class cricket, a move that raised questions over his Test future.
Marsh made his Test debut for Australia in 2014. He has played 46 Tests and last played for Australia in 2024 against India in Melbourne. The all-rounder has scored 2,083 Test runs at an average of 28.53 and taken 51 wickets at an average of 40.41. He returned to the Test team with a brilliant century at Headingley in the 2023 Ashes.
Mitchell Marsh to retire from first-class cricket amid Ashes 2025-26
According to Nine newspapers, Mitchell Marsh has told his Western Australia teammates that he plans to stop playing first-class cricket after this Sheffield Shield season. He took the decision after making two small scores in a recent match at the MCG.
Even though he is moving away from domestic red-ball cricket, Marsh has not given up on Test cricket completely. He knows he may not get a second chance, but if the selectors call him in the future, including the ongoing Ashes series, he is still ready to play.
Marsh has played hardly any red-ball cricket in recent years, having appeared only nine times for WA since 2019. Earlier reports also mentioned that he was being considered for Australia’s Ashes plans.
Head coach and selectors react to Mitchell Marsh’s Test plans
Before the Ashes began, George Bailey had hinted that Mitchell Marsh could come into the Test squad if the team needed it. Coach Andrew McDonald said Australia would not hesitate to select Marsh straight into white-ball cricket if they believed it would strengthen the Test team.
“He’s got a game that can provide an injection, he’s got a different look on how he can attack it. That’s not the path we’re going to take to start the series, but we’ll see how it looks later on,” Bailey said in November.
McDonald had said, “If we feel it will benefit the Test team then we will be comfortable picking someone and if you want to put a name in it then take Mitch Marsh out of white-ball cricket.”
“He is the captain of the white-ball team. It is very difficult for him to spare and balance Test preparation, if he is in the window for that. We are still not done with Mitch Marsh’s Test career.”
Mitchell Marsh faces uncertain Test future despite remaining available
Mitchell Marsh remains part of Australia’s plans in both white-ball formats. However, Cameron Green and Beau Webster are ahead of Marsh in the red-ball pecking order, making a return to the Test XI difficult.
His decision to step away from Sheffield Shield cricket also removes the main platform that selectors rely on to judge form. Without regular first-class performances, Marsh would only come into the Test team if Australia suffered a number of injuries to its batting group.
Marsh lost his position to Webster in early 2025. After the Ashes, the Yellow Team will not play any more Tests until August, when they host Bangladesh. Marsh has not completely closed the door, keeping himself available if the team suddenly needs him.
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