Mitchell Marsh: It is about the razzmatazz batting and the fizzy bowling. And the jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) couldn’t have asked for a better show.
While day one was quite a dampener. The second day’s play (December 27) was all about the theatrics involving 32-year-old Mitchell Marsh. With a conservative middle-order. The onus really was on the duo of Travis Head and Marsh to amp up the pace when and where required.
On quite a tricky surface, where batters opted for conservatism, Marsh attacked like a wild Bison, infusing much-needed energy into this encounter. 204/4, Australia were definitely eyeing a good total, but with the new ball around the corner, they needed someone to go hard at the ball.
That someone was Marsh, walked into this encounter on the back of a 90 and 63* against the same opponents in Perth.
On the fifth ball of his innings, Marsh launched an assault, a brutal authoritarian smack over the flaying mid-off fielder for a four. His intentions were clear.
In the 74th over of the innings, when Joel Wilson’s finger went up for an LBW decision, there was pin-drop silence at the ‘G, with Marsh still on 7 off 13.
How the umpires have fared despite double DRS drama
Umpire Joel Wilson came under the pump from Pakistan legend Wasim Akram amid a wretched start to the Boxing Day Test for the on-field officials.
Wilson, who controversially gave Ben Stokes not out at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes, was shown up by Mitchell Marsh twice in as many balls early on the second day.
Akram, Bhogle shocked by umpiring decisions in Melbourne Test
Australian batsman Mitch Marsh had a shaky start on day two of the second Test against Pakistan, surviving two close calls in two balls thanks to DRS and leaving Wasim Akram fuming at umpire Joel Wilson’s decisions.
Marsh replaced Travis Head at the crease after Head’s dismissal and immediately faced trouble. Hasan Ali’s LBW appeal was initially upheld by Wilson, sending Marsh scrambling for a review after chat with Marnus Labuschagne.
Replays, however, showed a nick on the ball, much to Marsh’s surprise, and the decision was overturned.
Cricket Controversy: Mitchell Marsh Survives Double Dismissals Amid Umpiring Criticism
The spectacle unfolded on the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where the game had resumed early to make up for time lost due to unfavorable weather conditions.
In an exhilarating twist during a cricket match, Australia’s Mitchell Marsh faced the extraordinary situation of being dismissed twice in back-to-back deliveries, only for both decisions to be canceled upon successful reviews.
Mitchell Marsh’s Double Reprieve
The first ruling declared Marsh out for leg before wicket (lbw), but a review revealed a slight inside edge, reversing the decision. Shortly after, Marsh was adjudged caught behind, a decision that was also successfully contested, leading to Marsh’s second reprieve.
This series of events stirred a whirlwind of controversy, shining a critical spotlight on umpire Joel Wilson’s performance.
Reactions and Controversies
Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akrim did not mince his words while criticizing Wilson’s umpiring. Meanwhile, Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne demonstrated remarkable form by scoring a half-century in 135 deliveries, earning praise from commentators and spectators alike.
In contrast, Travis Head fell short, dismissed by Shaheen Afridi and caught at second slip.
Australia’s Performance and David Warner’s Reflections
The day was not without its high points for Australia, despite the controversies. The team dominated the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, with Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, and Usman Khawaja leading the charge.
Marsh, in particular, expressed his fondness for batting at No.6 in the Test team, despite falling short of a century. The match commentary underscored Pakistan’s good recovery following Australia’s early boundaries and Labuschagne’s robust start to the day with boundaries off Afridi’s bowling.
On a poignant note, Australia’s David Warner reflected on his Boxing Day performance, confessing to being ‘lazy’ during his innings. As he nears retirement after the series against Pakistan, he plans to conclude his illustrious career in Sydney, marking the end of an era in Australian cricket.
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