The Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has replaced Peter Handscomb in Australia’s playing XI for the 3rd Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against India. However, the Melbourne crowd gave him a hostile welcome when he was called upon to bowl as early as the 20th over on day one of the Boxing Day Test matches on Wednesday.
Marsh, a native Western Australian, replaced local boy Handscomb and fans in the Great Southern Stand demonstrated their disapproval of dropping Handscomb known by booing the all-rounder.
WATCH – Mitchell Marsh Plays A Prank With The Umpires
Mitchell Marsh and Peter Handscomb have been trading places in the Test squad since the last Ashes with neither of them doing enough to cement their places in the XI. Handscomb was not picked for the UAE tour and after two below average performances with the bat in the first two Tests, he was asked to warm the bench and hence, Marsh was included as he gives the skipper Tim Paine an extra bowling option on the flat MCG track.
The 3rd loudest boo at the MCG, (after anything involving Kohli, and the MCC killing a wave) is Mitchell Marsh coming out to bowl #AUSvIND
— Dominic Dirupo (@DominicDirupo) December 26, 2018
He didn't receive a warm reception from the Melbourne crowd, but Mitchell Marsh has been Australia's most effective bowler today, in terms of false shots drawn. 17% of his deliveries brought an edge or a miss – he could be crucial to lower the workload on a flat deck. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 26, 2018
The incident was even discussed in the Commentary box with Adam Gilchrist and Harsha Bhogle walking down the memory lane on a similar incident when and young Gilchrist walked out at Perth for Western Australia, but, he was still booed by the home crowd because he was replacing WA’s long-standing wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Zoehrer.
WATCH – Virat Kohli Takes A Dig At Peter Handscomb
In the last five Test, Neither Marsh nor Handscomb has set the world alight with their recent performances for Australia as the former averages 10.4 with the bat, while the latter averages 17.1. These non-satisfactory figures have seen both players attract criticism from sections of the public and former players, but Aussie skipper Tim Paine was adamant his bowlers needed help on a flat MCG wicket.
