Australia opener announces retirement from red-ball cricket in the middle of Ashes 2025-26

Veteran Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has reportedly made a major decision on his red-ball career amid the five-match Test series against England. Marsh informed his Western Australia teammates that he plans to step away from first-class cricket, a move that raises questions about his Test future.

Marsh made his Test debut for Australia in 2014. He has played 46 Tests and last played for Australia in Melbourne against India in 2024. The all-rounder has scored 2,083 Test runs at 28.53 and taken 51 wickets at 40.41. He made his return to the Test side with a brilliant century at Headingley in the 2023 Ashes.

Mitchell Marsh Set to Retire From First-Class Cricket Amid Ashes 2025-26

According to Nine newspapers, Mitchell Marsh told his Western Australia teammates that he plans to stop playing first-class cricket after this Sheffield Shield season. He made the decision after scoring two small totals in a recent match at the MCG.

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Even though he is stepping away from domestic red-ball cricket, Marsh has not fully given up on Test cricket. He knows he may not get another chance, but he is still open to playing if the selectors call him in the future, including during the ongoing Ashes series.

Marsh has hardly played any red-ball cricket in recent years, appearing only nine times for WA since 2019. Earlier reports also mentioned that he was being considered for Australia’s Ashes plans.

Head Coach and Selectors’ Response on Mitchell Marsh’s Test Plans

Before the Ashes began, George Bailey had hinted that Mitchell Marsh could come into the Test side if the team needed him. Coach Andrew McDonald said that Australia would not hesitate to pick Marsh straight from white-ball cricket if they believed it would strengthen the Test team.

“He’s got a game that could provide an injection, a different look at how he might attack it. It’s not the path we’re going down to start the series, but what it looks like later on, we’ll see,” Bailey said in November.

“We would be comfortable picking someone, and if you want to put a name to it, Mitch Marsh, out of white-ball cricket if we felt like that was going to benefit the Test team," McDonald had said.

“He’s the captain of the white-ball team. It’s very hard for him to vacate and balance out Test preparation, if he was to be in the window for that. We still haven’t given up on Mitch Marsh’s Test career.”

Mitchell Marsh Faces Uncertain Test Future Despite Remaining Available

Mitchell Marsh continues to be part of Australia’s plans in both white-ball formats. However, Cameron Green and Beau Webster are ahead of Marsh in the red-ball pecking order, making a return to the Test XI difficult.

His decision to step away from Sheffield Shield cricket also removes the main platform selectors rely on to judge form. Without regular first-class performances, Marsh would only come into the Test side if Australia faced several injuries in their batting group.

Marsh lost his spot to Webster at the start of 2025. After the Ashes, the Men in Yellow will not play another Test until August, when they host Bangladesh. Marsh has not completely closed the door, keeping himself available in case the team suddenly needs him.

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