"Got a firm no from him" - Mitchell Marsh on David Warner batting at No. 3 in AUS vs NED 2023 World Cup clash
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh sarcastically revealed that David Warner is in no mood to bat at No. 3, given Travis Head's impending return against the Netherlands in the 2023 World Cup. Nevertheless, Marsh asserted that he is comfortable to bat at No. 3.
Head is likely to play his first 2023 World Cup match on Wednesday in Delhi against the Dutch. The left-hander, who will return to open with Warner, missed the first four matches due to a wrist injury suffered during the ODI series in South Africa in September.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Marsh revealed Warner's strict no-no to batting at No. 3 but is prepared to move to first drop despite resounding success as an opener.
"I mentioned to David Warner, maybe he can bat three, but I got a firm no from him. But yeah, very happy to go back down to three. I've obviously batted there a lot over the last couple of years, so I feel really comfortable at three. And if and when Heady comes back in, I think that's the best position for me to play for this team," Marsh said (via ESPN Cricinfo).
The seam-bowling all-rounder struck a 108-ball 121 against Pakistan in the last game, setting a platform for a massive total alongside Warner. He averages a healthy 60.55 while opening the innings, but it drops to 22.25 in 12 innings at No. 3.
"Not a whole lot's changed" - Mitchell Marsh on his gameplay
The West Australian suggested that he has kept his gameplay the same, but only strived for consistency, which he believes he has achieved in the last two years. The 32-year-old said:
"Not a whole lot's changed [with my game]. I've just probably not given up on the fact that I was striving for something and kept working hard through periods of time that were tougher than others. In the last couple of years, I feel as I've been as consistent as I have been, which was something that I was always striving for. I guess all the best players in the world that you look up to, and certainly in our team, they're so consistent. And that's what I have been."
With the Netherlands as unpredictable as they can get, head coach Andrew McDonald has asserted that Australia are not taking their opposition lightly.