Cameron Green explains importance of 'crucial' Mitchell Marsh knock at Basin Reserve

Mitchell Marsh received huge praise from fellow seam-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green for his counter-attacking innings on Day 1 of the first Test between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington on Thursday, February 29.

Marsh, who won the 2024 Allan Border Medal for being chosen as the most outstanding Australian men's cricketer in the past year, joined Green when Australia were in a spot of bother at 89/4. The Kiwi bowlers were breathing firing at the time and making every ball look like an event.

It was important for Australia to punch back and Marsh did exactly that with a counter-attacking innings of 40 off just 39 balls, belting six fours and a six. He added 67 runs off just 77 balls alongside Green before getting out to Matt Henry. However, thanks to the intent shown by the 32-year-old, the Aussies managed to add some crucial runs in quick time and put the pressure back on their opponents.

After Marsh's dismissal, Green continued punishing the Blackcaps bowlers and eventually finished unbeaten on 103 as Australia were 279/9 at Stumps. Following his epic ton, Green lavished praise on Marsh and explained how the swashbuckling knock helped the team's cause.

"I was struggling down my end, and I know how Mitch plays having played quite a bit with him for WA," Green said today after the pair added 67 for the fifth wicket, of which Marsh scored 40 from 39 balls against the run of play. He always loves to score and that was exactly what we needed at the time," Green was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.

"Just to put some pressure back on them when it was tough out there, and somebody who's looking to score is really dangerous. I thought his innings was really crucial for us today, just to put them on the back foot and try take a bit of shine off the ball. I thought he batted beautifully," Green noted.

I found it tough batting after Travis Head: Cameron Green

Green has played most of his cricket for the Australian Test team as a No. 6 batter. However, he was replaced by Marsh in the third Ashes Test in Headingley last year. Green had to wait in the wings until David Warner retired in January and he finally returned to the playing XI and got the No. 4 position. After slamming his second Test century, the 24-year-old asserted that the No. 4 spot suits his game better and mentioned that he previously found it difficult to come out to bat after Travis Head (Australia's No. 5 batter).

"It's where I like batting for WA, it suits my game and I found it tough batting after Heady (Travis Head) for a few years," Green said today of his new position at number four.

"He just made scoring look a bit too easy, and I'd take a bit of time to get in. So someone like Mitch Marsh is actually beautiful for that position. How he goes about is just as aggressive if not more aggressive than Heady, so number four suits me. But it's just whether or not that suits the team," Green added.

Also Read: Cameron Green opens up after persistent ton on 'pretty tough' Wellington wicket