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Mitchell Marsh could be Australia’s Ben Stokes, says George Bailey

Bailey has opined that out of favour all-rounder Mitchell Marsh could do for Australia what Stokes has been doing for England. In his latest column, Bailey has said Marsh junior has the ability to emulate Stokes’ heroics.

Bailey has said Mitchell Marsh has the ability to emulate Stokes’ heroics © Getty Images
Bailey has said Mitchell Marsh has the ability to emulate Stokes’ heroics © Getty Images

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been getting praises from all over the globe. Quite rightly so, after all the stupendous run he has had in past one year or so. After doing exceptionally well for England across formats, he was picked by the IPL franchise Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) for a jaw-dropping INR 14.5 crore — the highest price tag ever for an overseas player in the history of the tournament. He justified the over-hyped tag, by finishing the tournament’s 10th season as the MVP. And now, carrying the same confidence in the ICC Champions Trophy, he dealt the knockout blow to the Australian team with a fine unbeaten hundred.

Apart from sending Australia packing from the global event, Stokes’ knock also rang the alarm bells for them in the Ashes year. Australia will desperately need to come up with ways to counter Stokes when the two teams meet in the Ashes later this year. Former Australian limited-overs captain George Bailey, meanwhile has opined that out of favour all-rounder Mitchell Marsh could do for Australia what Stokes has been doing for England. In his latest column for cricket.com.au, Bailey has said Marsh junior has the ability to emulate Stokes’ heroics.

“Watching Ben Stokes blow Australia away with the bat at Edgbaston on Saturday, I had the same thought that always comes to mind when I see him play: that’s how Mitchell Marsh should bat in Test cricket,” wrote Bailey. He further went on to praise Stokes by adding, “Stokes is the most impactful player in world cricket right now and the way he and Eoin Morgan played the other day just shows how much belief he has and proves that he must have the full backing of the team to play the way he wants to play. They were just so positive and gung-ho right from the start and Stokes plays with that same mindset in Test cricket as well.”

“It looks like right from the start of his Test career he was told to back himself and play that way. There are always going to be times when he gets out to a bad shot when his team needs him to dig in, but it’ll come off more often than not for someone like him,” he added, before mentioning how Mitchell Marsh needs to be given the same licence to play to his strengths and back himself.

“And having seen how Mitch batted in the past 12 months in white-ball cricket for Australia, I can’t help but think that he could have the same sort of impact in the Test side. All he needs is a license to go out there and do it, and the absolute confidence that normally comes with having done it before. Both of which Stokes has,” he wrote.

Bailey then wrote that it is easier said than done. But having seen Stokes do the same, he can’t think why Mitchell Marsh can’t do it. “But it’s all very well to say ‘just go out and back yourself’. A lot of the time when Mitch has come to the crease in a Test match, the team has been four wickets down for not many. It’s very hard to truly back yourself in that situation because you know if you get caught at mid-off or in the deep, it’s not going to look good. But I can see Stokes doing just that and no one would bat an eye-lid. And that comes from earning the right to play that way and having the full backing of the team to do it,” he concluded.

Bailey is currently running out of favour for national selection. He, at the moment, is busy playing the English County cricket for Hampshire.

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