3 minute read
Out-of-sorts Australia have struggled in their opening two matches at the Cricket World Cup but Mitch Marsh does not believe the time is right to wield the axe.
Mitch Marsh insists there is no need for wholesale changes to Australia's XI at the Cricket World Cup but concedes turning things around against Sri Lanka will be a tough task.
India and South Africa have thumped Australia in their first two matches of the 50-over tournament in India, leaving the five-time champions at risk of falling out of contention with another loss.
To qualify for the final four, Australia are likely to need to win at least six of their remaining seven matches in the round-robin stage.
Coach Andrew McDonald dropped out-of-form allrounder Cameron Green and wicketkeeper Alex Carey after the opening loss to hosts India, but those changes failed to prevent a South African onslaught.
White-ball specialist paceman Sean Abbott is yet to play, while Australia have opened the batting with David Warner, Marsh, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne for both losses.
Marsh said the side's early struggles did not warrant widespread changes to the starting XI.
"We're disappointed to not get off to the greatest start but the most important thing about tournament play is moving on to the next game really quickly," he said.
"It's going to be a big challenge but we'll certainly be up and about for it."
Sri Lanka's World Cup campaign has also begun with two losses, although they made the final of the Asia Cup on home soil last month and won their one-day international series against Australia on the subcontinent last winter.
"It's a massive game for us," Marsh said of Monday's clash in Lucknow.
"Sri Lanka, certainly in these conditions, will be a tough task, every team is in the World Cup.
"We've got a very high skill-set in this group and we've got a lot of trust that we can turn this around.
"A lot of Australian teams, when they're backed into a corner, play their best cricket. We've found ourselves in a corner early on in this tournament.
"We've got to come out and put in a really good performance against Sri Lanka."
Marsh was dismissed for zero and seven in Australia's first two matches and dropped a catch against India that could have dismissed Virat Kohli, who went on to score 85 and help the hosts home.
But Australia's vice-captain remained confident of turning things around.
"I still feel really good," he said.
"The other night (against South Africa) was tough conditions and I probably wasn't able to put pressure back on the bowlers, which is a strength of mine, certainly in the powerplay.
"Davey (Warner) and I haven't gotten off to a partnership yet, which really helps set up our innings.
"That's something we need to rectify and hopefully that's this game."
