MITCH Marsh’s application to the Australian fast bowling cartel is still pending, but they might have to cave soon.
The pacemen occupied the back of the team bus during the Ashes, with Marsh’s attempts to sit alongside them becoming a running joke in the squad.
The allrounder is now hitting the 140km/h mark more consistently, although Mitchell Johnson isn’t quite ready to stop poking fun.
“He bowled one over and the first ball was at 128,” Johnson said.
“So I said: you’re still not in.
“The rest were at 140. He’s not far away.
“I might just cut him a little slack, but I like being the big brother to him so I’ll keep giving him a hard time.” Marsh bowled 15 overs in total during the first Tests against New Zealand, claiming three wickets at the Gabba.
The 24-year-old earned his baggy green as an aggressive batsman in 2014 and earned himself the nickname Bison from teammates because of his rather impressive melon size.
Now it’s the West Australian’s bowling that is keeping him in the team.
Peter Nevill suggested Marsh’s added pace was noticeable in Brisbane.
“Mitch Marsh for a couple of balls, but mostly Starc and Johnno,” Nevill said, when asked which paceman was hitting the gloves hardest.
“It was great to see. I’m very happy for him.” As was the case in the Ashes, Marsh is still searching for a score of substance.
Adam Voges, who has watched Marsh’s progression closely as Western Australia captain, is confident such a knock if not too far away.
“I’ve seen him play some very, very good innings,” Voges said. “It’s wonderful we’ve got someone in our top six who can bowl like Mitch does.
“He balances our team beautifully.”
Meanwhile, Johnson admits it will be sad to see Test matches moved away from the WACA.
From 2018, all blockbuster Test and one-day matches in Perth will be moved from the WACA to the new 60,000-capacity Perth Stadium.
And if the $1.4 billion venue is completed ahead of schedule, it will host an Ashes Test in late 2017 to mark its grand opening.
Johnson has achieved some of his greatest feats at the WACA, tallying 42 wickets across six Tests there at an average of 20.19. In 2008, he sent shivers through a star-studded South African line-up by snaring career-best figures of 8-61.
Johnson, 34, is nearing the end of his decorated career, meaning he’s highly unlikely to still be playing when the drop-in pitch at the new stadium is put to use.
But as a cricket lover, he’s sad to see blockbuster matches moved away from the WACA, which has built a strong tradition for being one of the world’s fastest and bounciest wickets since hosting its first Test in 1970.
“It’s sad, I think it is a great ground to play at,” Johnson said.
“Most teams would say the same thing. It’s a great place to play cricket.
“It’s disappointing, but at the same time there’s a new stadium that’s being built and that is going to hopefully bring more people to the games.
“But it’s a difficult one because it’s a ground that I have had success at - probably my most success at.
“I remember playing my first Shield game here in the early 2000s - playing against Joey Angel and Brad Williams and remembering how quick and bouncy it was, and (seeing) the cracks and how that played.
“You just aren’t going to get that anywhere else.” Warriors captain Adam Voges grew up playing at the WACA, and like Johnson will be saddened to see matches moved away from the iconic cricket venue.
“We play on a lot of drop-in wickets now and soon enough we’re going to be playing on another one. It is what it is,” Voges said.
“We understand that we need that in order for the future of the game to continue, and that’s the most important thing.
“(WACA curator) Matt Page is working his guts out to prepare a drop-in that has similar characteristics to the WACA.
“Whether that’s possible, we’ll wait and see.”
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