All-round Australian Mitch Marsh's the long-awaited return to Big Bash League (BBL) did not go as planned. The 33-year-old was dismissed for a golden duck in his first game for the Perth Scorchers in three years.
The excitement at Optus Stadium was palpable, with over 30,000 fans turning up to see their hometown star back in action. Marsh, who had last played for the Scorchers in the BBL11 final, was expected to strengthen the batting line-up. But his comeback took a disappointing turn when Melbourne Renegades pacer Will Sutherland trapped him with his first delivery.
A nightmare start for Marsh
Coming in with high expectations, Marsh received a warm welcome from the Perth crowd. But the excitement quickly faded. Sutherland, who was in fiery form, delivered a full ball that bounced back to Marsh, catching him in front. Without much hesitation, Marsh left, accepting his fate with a brief consideration for a review.
The dismissal left the stadium stunned and set the tone for a challenging evening for the Scorchers.
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Marsh reflects on his return
Speaking to Fox Cricket ahead of the match, Marsh expressed his excitement about returning to the Scorchers after a long international spell.
“It's been a long time. I definitely love playing for the Scorchers, and it was great to come home after a big series. I love playing here,” he said.
Despite early setbacks, Marsh retained his sense of humour, introducing himself on air as a “former Test star”.
Scorchers Struggle After Horror Start
Marsh's dismissal was not the only blow to Perth. Rising star Cooper Connolly, who leads the competition in runs, followed suit with a duck. He was bowled on the second ball by Tom Rogers, further deflating the crowd.
Captain Ashton Turner also fell cheaply for just eight runs, leaving the Scorchers reeling at 47-4 after seven overs.
Marsh's return to domestic cricket came just a week after he was dropped from Australia's Test squad. His performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was underwhelming, with scores of 9, 5, 4, 2 and 0 in his last five innings. He struggled with bat and ball, leading to his replacement by Beau Webster for the final Test.
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