"I daresay that if I play in T20 World Cup, I'll be listed at No. 3" - Marsh

Mitchell Marsh is hopeful of retaining the No. 3 spot in the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman, scheduled to begin on Sunday (October 17). In the absence of Steve Smith, Marsh was promoted to first drop in West Indies and Bangladesh and the all-rounder made the most of this opportunity.

Australia lost eight of their 10 T20Is in West Indies and Bangladesh but Marsh managed to hold his ground. The 29-year-old slammed 375 runs including four half-centuries and also took eight wickets at 13.62. Australia are likely to have Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade in their middle-order and Marsh said all of them will have to be flexible.

"I daresay that if I play in this tournament, I'll be listed at number three. But I think the beauty of our squad is that, from three to six or even seven, all of us can float and it will be just be a matter of game situation and who we think is best to go in next," Marsh told Cricket.com.au.

"I think I'll be at the top if I do play, but it's about being adaptable and being able to float with the guys that we've got coming after me."

Most of the Australian players who featured in the first half of the Indian Premier League 2021 didn’t  travel to West Indies and Bangladesh and the team management said that their spots could be taken by those who impressed during the back-to-back tours. 

It’s been almost 10 years since Marsh made his international debut and the all-rounder said he is now a lot more confident and wants to make an impact in the showpiece event. Marsh even played one game for Western Australia in the One-Day Cup and smashed 111 from No. 3.

"I probably feel more confident just in my preparation and that often allows me to go out there and just play the game and try and perform for the team. I know that when I've prepared really well I go out there full of confidence and that's certainly been the case for the last few months."

The surfaces in the UAE and Oman will assist the spinners and Marsh said he has worked a lot to improve his play against spin bowling. He even spoke to Australian legspinner Adam Zampa before leaving for West Indies. 

"I just asked him where he would bowl to me to try and stop me from scoring. I felt like I played really well in the West Indies and even in Bangladesh on some of those tough wickets.

"I've worked really hard on my game against spin, probably more so around rotation of strike and making sure that I'm getting off strike through those middle overs in white-ball cricket. Then the extension of that was trying to make sure I have plenty of boundary options."