Mitchell Marsh to miss the first half of English county season owing to ankle injury

Marsh will undergo the ankle surgery next week.

Mitchell Marsh | Getty

Surrey has begun their hunt for a new overseas player after Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh opted out of the first half of the English county season owing to an ankle injury. The 26-year-old will undergo a surgery next week and might represent Surrey in the latter half of the season if fitness permits.

Marsh had signed for the county in October last year and was due to play all three formats for them this summer. The lanky all-rounder featured in Australia's most recently concluded four-match Test series against South Africa, which ended in a humiliating 3-1 defeat.

“I am extremely disappointed to be missing the start of the season. I was looking forward to heading over and joining the Surrey family,” Marsh said according to Surrey’s official website.

“I will be doing everything I can to get myself fully fit and hopefully join the side later in the season,” he further added.

Mitchell, son of former Australia opener Geoff, has played 28 Tests, 53 one-day internationals and nine T20Is for Australia after making his debut in 2011. He was supposed to fill up the big boots of legendary Kumar Sangakkara, who had left Surrey as an overseas cricketer last year.

“This is a big blow for both Surrey and Mitch so close to the start of the English season, but we wish Mitch all the best in his recovery,” Alec Stewart, the director of cricket at Surrey, quoted as saying by Surrey’s official website.

This is not the first time Mitchell Marsh has picked up an injury before an important assignment. Marsh had gone through a shoulder surgery in March 2017 after he picked up an injury during the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. Subsequently, he had missed the IPL 2017. Marsh had also left IPL 2016 midway because of the side strain.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 04 Apr, 2018

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