Mitchell Marsh rescues Australia with whirlwind ton at Headingley
Mitchell Marsh will lead Australia for the first time on a T20 tour of South Africa. Photo: Getty
Mitchell Marsh has celebrated his Test return by thundering a 102-ball century at Headingley, putting Australia back in the third Ashes clash.
Marsh was out just before tea on day one in Leeds for 118, with Australia 5-240 and eying off a shot at its first series win in England in 22 years.
Recalled to the side for the injured Cameron Green, Marsh has immediately given Australia’s selectors a serious headache with his commanding innings in Leeds.
When he walked to the crease 4-85, England was rolling and Australia at real risk of a collapse that would invite the hosts back into the Ashes.
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But Marsh immediately took the game away from them.
He hit 21 boundaries in his knock, driving with incredible power and pulling three sixes high over the legside and belting another one down the ground.
Such was Marsh’s strike power, the usually free-flowing Head was made to look as if his batting had come to a standstill with his 39 not out.
The pair’s 155-run partnership will have come with great frustration for England, which would be in a far better position if it had taken its chances behind the stumps.
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Head should have been caught on eight when he hit a ball down legside through to Jonny Bairstow, only for the wicketkeeper’s nightmare series behind the stumps to continue.
England then had the chance to remove Marsh on 12 when he offered Joe Root a regulation chance at first slip off Chris Woakes.
It marked the 13th chance England have spilled in this series.
Making matters worse for the hosts is that seamer Ollie Robinson has left the field with an apparent ankle injury, while captain Ben Stokes is yet to bowl with his problematic knee.
All the while, Marsh showed no sympathy.
As if making up for lost time, the 31-year-old got off the mark with a classic cover drive off Stuart Broad and soon after lunch pulled a Mark Wood bouncer for six.
He went to 99 by whacking Moeen Ali back down the ground for six, and pushed a quick single off the next ball to go to three figures.
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However the party ended when he inside-edged Woakes into his thigh pad and was caught at second slip on what was ultimately the last ball before tea.
Green is Australia’s young star as an all-rounder, but selectors will now find it very hard to leave Marsh out for the fourth Test at Manchester.
Marsh’s innings took on even more importance considering the way England bowled in the first session.
Broad had David Warner caught edging in the first over, and later nicked off Steve Smith for 22.
Usman Khawaja was clean bowled for 13 by Wood during a spell in which the England quick reached speeds of 155 km/h, while Woakes had Marnus Labuschagne edging on 21.
At that point Australia was in trouble, before Marsh’s onslaught put the tourists back on top.
