Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has revealed his family has an unfortunate record in the Boxing Day Test after he fell agonisingly short of a fourth Test century on 96.
Mitchell came to the crease at 4/16 on day four at the MCG but swung momentum back into Australia’s hands and his 96 could prove to be a game-saving knock.
It was the second time in as many matches Mitchell has got himself out in the 90s and after play on Thursday he revealed his family’s unwanted trend in the famous Boxing Day Test.
Mitchell’s brother Shaun and father Geoff have both donned the baggy green during the Boxing Day Test but have both also fallen short of the elusive triple figures.
“There’s so much history at this ground and the Boxing Day Test match I think Shaun and dad and myself now all have 90s in the Boxing Day Test match so there’s one for the family,” he told ABC Radio.
“Swamp (Geoff) will be spewing but look any batsman will say if you give me 96 at the start of the day it’d be great.
“I guess more importantly I’m disappointed we were about to break the back of them and really push the game forward but the game’s evenly poised now.”
Shaun played in four Boxing Day Tests but will remember 2014 because he was run out on 99 while Geoff played in seven matches at the MCG but was unable to reach 100 falling on 86 in 1991.
Mitchell said his older brother had “still got me” with the top score in the family but was hopeful he would get at least “one more crack” at the Boxing Day Test.
Both Shaun and Geoff were in the stands watching at the MCG for Mitchell’s innings with the father getting increasingly tense as his son approached the milestone.
Mitchell was eventually dismissed as he edged a Mir Hamza delivery which was caught in one hand by a diving Agha Salman sending the Marsh clan’s heads into their hands.
Shaun played 38 Test matches scoring six centuries and had an average of 34.31, Mitchell has played 37 Tests scoring three centuries with an average of 31.03 and Geoff played 50 Tests scoring four centuries with an average of 33.18.
After play Mitchell said he was “spewing” to have gotten out so close to 100 but was proud he could help the team out of the tricky situation.
Australia was reeling at 4/16 when Mitchell strode out to the crease to face a hattrick ball and partner Steve Smith.
Mitchell got to work scoring quickly while Smith blocked away at the other end and the pair combined for 153 runs to wrestle the game back in Australia’s favour.
Since returning to the Australian Test side Mitchell has scored one century and four 50s at an average of nearly 70.
“I’m enjoying my cricket and there’s no doubt over the last 12 months I’ve really found my method and the last couple of months in Test cricket,” he said.
“Today was probably my biggest test it’s all well and good to come out and take the game on but at 4/17 I was a little bit nervous so I had to stick to my guns and I’m proud of myself for doing that.
“It would have been really nice to do that and really push the game forward but we’ve got ourselves back into the game.”
Australia resumes day four at the MCG on Friday at 6/187 with a second innings lead of 241 and still needs to bowl Pakistan out in the final innings to secure victory and the series.
(SKY NEWS)
