Marsh: ‘I just want this team to win’

Cricket365
September 8, 2015

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was pleased, but not overly excited about his contribution with the bat in the first ODI against England, even though it helped his side to victory.

Marsh made 40 not out as part of a century stand with Matthew Wade, which saw the Aussies record 305 for six at Southampton. They defended that by 59 runs, and Marsh's solitary six in the final over was what took the score over 300.

Marsh said after the match: "When you're in those positions I was just really focused on getting out of that rut that we were in and getting a few at the end.

"We knew we didn't have as many wickets as we would have liked at the end so it was about taking it as deep as possible.

"Wadey batted beautifully. My role as the aggressor today, although I was trying, didn't really come off."

Marsh's batting in the Ashes Tests was not the best, as he averages 12 and made a top score of 48 in five innings. But he hopes to contribute better in the one-dayers, and isn't too worried about his own stats as long as the team wins.

He continued: "I would have liked to score a few more runs in the Ashes when I had the opportunity.

"I've set myself a goal this one-day tour to do as much as I can for the team and hopefully score a few more runs.

"Coming in down the order my role is going to be coming in at the end and hopefully I can have a few more partnerships like I did today with Wadey.

"For me, in a one-day series like this it's not about how many runs I score or how many wickets I take.

"I just want to do anything for the team to win, and if that means I get five off 10 balls at the end or 40 not out in a hundred-run partnership with Matthew Wade, then I'm happy.

"I'm not too worried about numbers or making big runs. I just want this team to win. "