Daily Times

Four years ago, having candidly revealed he felt like most of Australia hated him, Mitch Marsh famously vowed to keep trying to win over the national team’s fans.

It’s now clear he has succeeded, turning the tide of public opinion at even the most hostile of venues. The West Australian allrounder was mercilessly booed at the MCG when he replaced local favourite Peter Handscomb in the team for the Boxing Day Test in 2018. But Marsh had rowdy revellers in the Shane Warne Stand singing and chanting his nickname – ‘Bison’ – on his Test return to the iconic venue against Pakistan on Wednesday.

The forgiving 32-year-old played up to the adoring crowd, clapping and dancing along with the tunes while fielding in the outer. He even took to replicating football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuuu’ celebration as hundreds of fans joined in. “That was awesome,” Australian captain Pat Cummins said after the close of play. “He (Marsh) actually said that as he was walking off, ‘Gee, it feels a long way away from a few years ago when I was getting a different reception’.”

During the 2019 Ashes series, an emotional Marsh opened up about his experience in Melbourne the previous year. “Yeah, most of Australia hate me,” he said at the time. “Look, Australians are passionate. They love their cricket. They want people to do well. “It’s no doubt I’ve had a lot of opportunity at Test level and I haven’t quite nailed it but hopefully they can respect me for the fact that I keep coming back.

“I love playing for Australia, I love wearing the baggy green cap and I’ll keep trying, and hopefully I’ll win them over one day.” Marsh has since been a key part of two limited overs World Cup victories and found form in red-ball cricket, having ended a four-year Test hiatus in July during the latest Ashes series. “He should be getting the receptions that he’s starting to get now,” Cummins said. “He’s a champion and as you can see he’s always up for a good time and having a laugh with the fans as well.” Marsh, who made 90 and 63 not out in the first Test, showed trademark aggression in smacking a six and half a dozen boundaries in his knock of 41 on Wednesday. It helped Australia to a total of 318 before Pakistan went to stumps at 6-194.