Mitchell Marsh turned his back to $3 million to play in the Ashes

‘Every sacrifice has a fruitful reward; every failure has a second chance’- Mitchell Marsh’s latest developments in his cricket career can be summed up in the one-liner. The 27-year-old has been in and out of the Australian national team, something which would’ve added to his frustration. The all-rounder disappointed in the Test series versus Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Then he missed quite a bit of cricket and wasn’t even considered for the Aussies’ campaign in the 2019 edition of the World Cup. Amidst his travails, he made a decision, a sacrificial move that saw him turn his back on $3 million. Marsh pulled himself out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in order to be a part of the 2019 Ashes in England that is currently taking place.

“Mitchell Marsh turned his back on about $3 million of Indian Premier League money to make this (Test) squad. It’s basically a $3 million sacrifice for one Test. Extraordinary really,” senior cricket writer Robert Craddock was quoted as saying to Fox Sports.

Mitchell Marsh keeps staving off hurdles

Rather, he chose to play county cricket for Surrey in order to get himself accustomed to the playing conditions in England. But to his sheer agony and grief, he developed an ankle injury and was ruled out the county championship. He was picked for the Ashes, and after four Tests, it seemed that dream of representing his nation in the high-voltage series would remain unfulfilled.

However, fate showed some mercy on him and he was picked for the fifth and final Test at the Kennington Oval in London. Travis Head’s poor run of form opened the doors on Marsh. And he soared above the expectations. Marsh picked up four wickets on the first day of the game.

“Most of Australia hate me,” Marsh told the reporters after the day’s play. Marsh didn’t stop there and notched a five-wicket haul in the first session of the second day. After how he did in the first innings, it can be expected that the ‘hatred’ for him would diminish a wee bit if not a whole lot. His next task will be churn out a significant knock with the bat in hand.

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