Mitch Marsh in 'horrible' SCG moment before Pakistan woes in first Test
The allrounder thought he had made the breakthrough after lunch.
Mitch Marsh endured a brutal moment in the third Test against Pakistan after taking a wicket only to find out it was a no-ball. Pakistan were left reeling on the first session of day 1 against Australia with the quick attack ripping through the line-up.
Mitchell Starc started the day with a wicket in the first over, before Josh Hazlewood got in on the act. Then captain Pat Cummins continued his stellar form and took two wickets to leave Pakistan needing a fightback.
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And just after lunch, Marsh thought he had made the breakthrough when edged it to Steve Smith who took the catch smoothly at second slip. The Aussies celebrated as Shan Masood thought he had to walk.
"That is a loose, loose shot," Ian Smith said in commentary. "Hold the phone Junior, hold the phone on this..." However, the umpire told Marsh he had to wait as replays showed the allrounder well and truly stepped over the crease. Marsh was made to wait for his first wicket, but it didn't come after.
Masood failed to learn from his brief error two overs earlier and fell to Marsh in an identical manner 10 balls later when he edged it to Smith. Marsh celebrated half-heartedly as he waited for the no-ball to be cleared.
And after it was cleared, Marsh offered the umpire a high-five. But in good humour, this was denied much to Marsh's amusement. Marsh ended the resistance from Masood who scored 35 off 70 balls.
Mitch Marsh got the wicket of Shan Masood - but it was a no ball!
However, 10 balls later, he got him again! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/bJxYikSIIc— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2024
Shan Masood is caught at slip but Mitch Marsh has overstepped – the captain gets a reprieve.#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/NfMkVt6JnH
— Grassroots Cricket (@grassrootscric) January 3, 2024
Yet another poor shot. Should be 5 down. Needed that Pakistan. Horrible from Mitch Marsh. #AUSvPAK
— Craig M (@diminutiverowdy) January 3, 2024
Yes, he’s one of the most popular members of this Australian team but there’s something about Mitchell Marsh taking a wicket that seems to make Pat Cummins happier than most things that happen on the field #AusvPak
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 3, 2024
Aussies create history after top start against Pakistan
The Aussies started off on fire at the Sydney Cricket Ground as Starc and Josh Hazlewood created Test history. Starc struck with only the second ball of the Test, tempting Abdullah Shafique into a loose shot that was caught by Steve Smith at second slip.
The very next over Hazlewood got one to move away from Saim Ayub, with the debutant edging it as it nipped away and watched helplessly as the ball landed in the gloves of Alex Carey to leave the visitors 2/4. To make matters worse for the visitors, Pakistan's two openers falling for a duck created a piece of unwanted history.
Cricket statistician Mazher Arshad revealed in a post to X that with the two early wickets, Australia became the first team in Test history to dismiss both openers for a duck to start a calendar year. Commentator Isa Guha said it was typical Australian bowling. “Pressure... Consistent line and length. That’s what this bowling attack do, they’re so relentless,” Guha said.
The early struggles on day one are just the latest in a long history of woes for Pakistan against Australia. The side has not won a Test in Australia in December since 1995 when they secured a 74-run victory at the SCG.
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