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India vs Australia: Border questions decision on Mitchell Marsh rest
Brisbane: After Australia bagged the victory in the opening game of ODI series against Team India, the team selectors decided to give rest to the Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for the 2nd ODI, however former Australia captain Allan Border today put a question on the decision on Marsh.
It was announced before the opening game of the series on Tuesday that Marsh would be replaced in Australia’s squad by John Hastings for the second match at the Gabba ground here on Friday.
The move was designed to the give the all-rounder a rest before an intense spell of cricket.
Marsh is not carrying an injury and the decision came about purely to give him a break.
“I cannot work it out, he must be knocked up from practising,” Border was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.
“Because he hasn’t played a lot to be rested, really. If I was him I’d be insisting ‘if I’m in the side I’m going to play’.”
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who recently retired, said he was always reluctant to take a break due to the risk of potentially placing unwanted pressure on his spot in the side when he returned.
“I wanted to play as many games for Australia as I possibly could and I never liked to give another guy an opportunity,” Haddin said on Thursday.
“Because if they come in and get a hundred, you might come back into the team but it puts that pressure on you that you don’t need. “(Marsh) hasn’t played a lot of cricket and he hasn’t had great opportunities to bat.”
“And during the one-day series it’s sometimes a great opportunity to get yourself back into the rhythm of batting leading into such a big series in New Zealand,” he added.
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.