NEW DELHI: Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh acknowledged on Monday that his gully fielding position causes him considerable anxiety, particularly due to Cameron Green's stellar reputation in that spot.
With Green absent from the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a spine injury, Marsh has adapted to the role adequately, as evidenced by his spectacular catch to dismiss Shubman Gill during the third day of the Third Test in Brisbane.
"Yeah, I think since I've come back into the Test team, fielding at gully is probably when I feel the most nervous because Green is likely to go down as one of the best ever. If you drop one there, you're always compared to him," Marsh stated at the post-day press conference.
Marsh's exceptional catch off Mitchell Starc resulted in Gill's dismissal for one, with India concluding Day 3 at a concerning 51 for four.
"Any time I can do something like that -- I probably didn't even need to dive, to be fair -- but I thought it had a bit of a moment, and it is a fun team. It's a great team to be a part of. So, yeah, I like fielding there, but honestly, being at square leg is just as good."
Marsh expressed satisfaction with Australia's first innings total of 445. He discussed the possibility of enforcing the follow-on and emphasised the importance of taking 20 wickets for victory.
Following their defeat in the opening Test in Parth, Australia has successfully pressured the Indian batsmen. The Australian bowling attack has maintained consistent performance, particularly with the new ball.
Virat Kohli's dismissal, caught behind by Alex Carey while chasing a wide delivery, highlighted his ongoing difficulties outside off-stump. Kohli's departure for 3, with India at 6/2, intensified their struggles.
Regarding Kohli's wicket, Marsh explained: "There's no real talk about that (Kohli dismissal). I think it's more just, every time he comes to the crease, we know he's a big wicket for them. He's one of the greatest players ever, so it's just about being really diligent and trying to execute your plans. And I guess it's always nice to see the back of one of the game's greats."
With weather interruptions affecting the third Test, Marsh mentioned constant monitoring of weather forecasts, expressing hope for sufficient time to achieve a result.
