Delhi Capitals confirmed overnight that Marsh,in consultation with Cricket Australia medical staff,had flown back to Perth to rest his hamstring,with time at home in his own bed judged a superior recovery option versus the heavy travel schedule for all teams during the hectic IPL fixture.
As previously flagged by Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald,Marsh is set to be named captain for the T20 World Cup campaign,following a successful trip of series as interim skipper over the past nine months.
“I think all roads will lead to Mitch,so just got to get that ticked off in certain areas,” McDonald said in New Zealand last month.
“We’re happy and comfortable with the way he’s been able to operate with that T20 team. We think he’s the leader for the World Cup,and I think that will just be a matter of due course.”
The decision to install Marsh as leader,which still needs to be ratified by the CA board of directors,is partly devised to share the leadership load around Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins,who is likely to retain the 50-over role for next year’s Champions Trophy.
Cummins was also appointed as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL,a choice partly inspired by his brilliant leadership of the Australian World Cup victory in India last year.
Fraser-McGurk composed a striking half century on his IPL debut for Delhi against Lucknow,in a clash between the Australian coaches and former teammates Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer.