T20 World Cup 2024: Australia Head Coach Backs Mitchell Marsh To Lead Side In Show-Piece Event

Star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh all set to lead Australia at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and the Caribbean after receiving strong backing from the head coach Andrew McDonald.

Since former T20 World Cup-winning skipper Aaron Finch's retirement following the 2022 T20 World Cup staged in Australia, Marsh has led the side in three bilateral series, while Matthew Wade has filled in when the all-rounder was rested following the ODI World Cup.

While speaking to the media on Tuesday (March 12), McDonald said that the Australia team management is "happy and comfortable" with Marsh leading their T20 side. He also called the 32-year-old their "leader" for the T20 World Cup.

"I think all roads will lead to Mitch, so just got to get that ticked off in certain areas. 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," McDonald was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

According to cricket.com.au, McDonald and the team selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide will soon meet on the plans for the T20 World Cup, and the head coach will likely advise Marsh's name as the skipper of the Aussie side in the upcoming 20-over World Cup.

While Pat Cummins led the ODI World Cup side and continues to lead the Test team, Marsh has been leading Australia's T20I side on an unofficial basis since last year.

The 32-year-old had led Australia to a 3-0 away series white-wash in South Africa last year. After missing the series in India, the all-rounder returned to the role at home against West Indies earlier this year, when the hosts won the series 2-1.

The Western Australian continued to lead the side in the away series against New Zealand, where he captained the team in the first two T20Is. Wade once again stepped in for the final T20I as Australia completed another white-wash of their Trans-Tasman neighbours.

Marsh, who made his T20I debut against South Africa in 2011, has scored 1432 runs at a strike rate of 135.35 in 54 matches. The all-rounder, who bowls medium pace, has also bagged 17 wickets at an economy rate of 7.74 in the shortest format of the game.

Marsh will hope to lead Australia to back-to-back three ICC titles with the team already winning the recent ODI World Cup and World Test Championships under the captaincy of Cummins in 2023, beating India on both occasions.

The 2024 T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from June 1 to 29, will be the largest-ever ICC event featuring a record 20 teams with 55 matches to be played across nine cities - three in the USA and six in the West Indies.

Australia, who have been drawn in Group B along with defending champions England, will open their campaign against Oman on June 6th at Kensington Oval in Barbados. Group B also includes Namibia and Scotland.