Mitch Marsh development delights cricket fans after T20 captaincy call

Mitch Marsh has completed a stunning turnaround from once maligned cricket star to Aussie fan favourite after being named the country's newest Twenty20 captain. The all-rounder will lead the Australian side during this month's T20 series in South Africa after Monday's white-ball team announcements saw Marnus Labuschagne sensationally dropped from the ODI squad.

Marsh starred in Australia's T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, then won back his Test spot and made a stunning century during the recent Ashes series in an incredible career resurgence for the 31-year-old. The towering West Australian will lead a side featuring Steve Smith in three T20 games against the Proteas, while a host of regulars earn breathers ahead of the ODI World Cup in India, beginning in October.

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Test stars Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green and David Warner will all miss the T20 series, while Ashton Agar rehabilitates a calf injury. Those players are all set to join the Aussie squad for the one-day leg of the South African tour, with Cummins expected to be fit after fracturing his left wrist on day one of the final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Cricket world reacts to Mitch Marsh news

"Mitch has long been a senior player within the white ball structure, with this an opportunity for him to add to his leadership skills at international level," chairman of selectors George Bailey said about Marsh in a statement. The Marsh captaincy news was warmly welcomed across the Aussie cricket community as fans praised the all-rounder's remarkable turnaround.

New-look Aussie squads confirmed for upcoming tour

A white-ball mainstay in the Australian sides, Glenn Maxwell (family leave) will link with the squad in India for a three-game series before the World Cup that runs over October and November. All-rounder Aaron Hardie, left-arm paceman Spencer Johnson and top-order batsman Matt Short could make their T20 international debuts after being included in the new-look Aussie squad.

"Aaron, Spencer and Matt have been outstanding in the BBL and identified as potential national players of the future," Bailey added. "Aaron has impressed in recent outings for Australia A as well as for the Scorchers, while Matt has blossomed with extra responsibility at the top of the order for the Strikers. Spencer's left-arm pace and bounce was highly effective in his first season for the Heat. This trip will be a fantastic experience for all three and the chance to play their first games for their country."

Tanveer Sangha, Nathan Ellis and Hardie have been included in an 18-man ODI squad that will be trimmed to 15 in early September and finalised on September 28. The biggest shock in the ODI squad was the omission of Labuschagne, who paid the price for indifferent batting form that saw him pass 50 runs just three times in 16 innings since being recalled to the middle order in March last year.

However, Bailey said Cummins' "enforced rest" was a positive for the Aussies ahead of the World Cup opener against the hosts on October 8. Cummins has had a particularly busy schedule in 2023, having played in the World Test Championship final against India in June, before featuring in all five Ashes Tests.

T20 SQUAD: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

ODI SQUAD: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

T20s v South Africa: August 31, September 2 and 3

ODIs v South Africa: September 7, 9, 12, 15 and 17

ODIs v India: September 22, 24, 27.

with AAP

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