Mitchell Marsh follows in big footsteps

Mitchell Marsh has burst onto the domestic scene in Australia this summer, but over the next couple of weeks he'll be hoping to impress an international audience as Australia's captain at the Under-19 World Cup. He is leading a strong squad that sets off on Saturday for New Zealand, where Australia will aim to win the tournament for the first time since 2002.

Marsh is following some impressive predecessors. Eight years ago, Cameron White led Australia to victory in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand; in 2004 Tim Paine, now an ODI player, captained the team in Bangladesh; and in 2006 the side in Sri Lanka was led by Moises Henriques, who is now being groomed as the New South Wales captain.

This year's group includes four players who have experience at state level: the New South Wales fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, the Queensland fast man Alister McDermott and the South Australian bowler Kane Richardson. But Marsh is the star of the outfit, and not just because his father Geoff and brother Shaun are both international cricketers.

Marsh, 18, has played for Western Australia in all three formats this season. He has shown immense power and ability as a batsman, with 60 from 29 balls in an FR Cup game against New South Wales and 92 against Tasmania.

A handy medium-pace bowler, he grabbed 4 for 6 in a Big Bash match this week. The Warriors are frustrated at losing Marsh for the rest of the Twenty20 tournament, but for the time being his focus is firmly on success in New Zealand.

"This season has been a bit of a rollercoaster with having my ankle surgery at the start of the season and to where I am now," Marsh said. "It's been good learning and hopefully I can keep going when I get back.

"Any kid wants to play for their country and to be able to captain them in a World Cup, it's going to be a great experience. Hopefully I can go over there and lead the team to a World Cup."

Australia meet South Africa, Ireland and the United States in the group stage. Marsh expects the toughest competition to come from India and Pakistan, as well as a New Zealand side featuring two nephews of John Bracewell and the son of the former allrounder Rod Latham.

"Teams like Pakistan and India have always got good junior sides," Marsh said. "Going over there, New Zealand, the home team will probably be favourites and obviously us, I think we've got a pretty good side. The conditions should suit us, we've got some pretty tall bowlers and teams like India and Pakistan haven't really played much on bouncy wickets at this stage."

Marsh is making the most of his early entry into elite cricket after choosing the sport over Australian rules football. A talented tall centre-half forward, Marsh could have nominated for the AFL draft but instead decided to follow his brother and father and pursue a cricket career.

Although Marsh is too young to remember his father playing at the highest level, he has been guided by Geoff, who is his coach at the Fremantle Cricket Club. There, the teenager set a club record by scoring 208 in a game last season and he said his father had played a big part in his burgeoning career.

"He's been a massive influence on me," Marsh said. "He's my batting coach and my dad, he's one of my best mates. He's obviously been great for me and our relationship will be strong for life. He's been great for me."