'Can't believe that': Cricket world erupts over Mitch Marsh act
Mitch Marsh has sparked controversy in the first ODI against the West Indies after walking - but only after the Windies had asked for a review.
Marsh was on 20 during the opening ODI on Wednesday when he gloved the ball down the leg-side to wicket-keeper Nicholas Pooran.
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However umpire Joel Wilson failed to raise the finger and Marsh stood his ground.
It was only when West Indies captain Kieron Pollard asked for a review that Marsh started to walk off the ground, knowing full well that DRS would find him guilty.
Marsh was virtually back in the grandstands by the time the decision came through.
Windies players were clearly unimpressed with Marsh's tactics, with the Australian batsman sharing a few words with his rivals as he made his way from the field.
Fans were heavily divided on social media, with some suggesting Marsh should have walked straight away if he knew he hit it.
Others said the Aussie star had every right to wait for the umpire's decision.
"Can't believe Marsh stood there in defiance for over 10 seconds and then walked off the second that Pollard signalled for a review," the Caribbean Cricket Podcast tweeted.
Yeah because every player walks off when the umpire doesn't give them out don't they. Had Pollard not taken the review Marsh would've rightly stayed, clearly walks off when review is taken knowing he'd be given out.
— Nathan Watson 🇦🇺🇪🇪⚫⚪👍 (@N_Watson_) July 20, 2021
Brilliant tactic.
— M. B. W (@Dim_Twitted) July 20, 2021
mitch marsh had every right to wait!
— Munjit Singh 🌱 (@iam_mnjt) July 20, 2021
I’ll support batsmen walking when the fielding side agrees not to appeal when they know it’s not out.
— Lucas70 (@luke_b70) July 20, 2021
So Mitch Marsh KNEW he was out and he didn't walk, ump says not out. Then the decision was reviewed and he walked because he knew it would be overturned. He's a damn t'ief but that's not surprising. Australia has priors with this.
— Jonathan (@johnochase) July 20, 2021
Mitch Marsh. Good sportsmanship or not? Waits for the decision to review before walking off knowing he hit it.
— WALKING WOUNDED (@syrup01) July 20, 2021
Australia thrash West Indies in first ODI
Stand-in skipper Alex Carey starred with the bat and his opening bowlers with the ball, as Australia charged to a 133-run win in Barbados.
Australia scored 9-252, but the home side's target was revised to 257 off 49 overs after three rain delays.
Carey (67 off 87 balls) and Ashton Turner (49 off 45) combined for a fifth-wicket stand of 104 in just under 19 overs.
The West Indies' chase was effectively over after just 7.4 overs as they crashed to 6-27.
Mitchell Starc (5-48 off 8 overs) and Josh Hazlewood (3-11 off 6) each claimed three wickets, with the latter conceding just five runs in his first five overs.
"I probably haven't seen a powerplay like that before, but when they get it right we know how damaging they are," Carey said of Starc and Hazlewood.
The hosts were dismissed for 123 in just 26.2 overs.
With Carey captaining the side for the first time in place of the injured Aaron Finch and three ODI debutants in opening batsmen Josh Philippe and Ben McDermott and pace bowler Wes Agar, it was a new look Australian team.
"It was (special) not only for me, but for three other boys, to make their debuts and to get a win," Carey said.
with AAP
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