shaun marsh Retired from first-class cricket after 22 years’ service for Western Australia at Sheffield Shield level and 38 Test matches for Australia.
Marsh made his first-class debut for WA in 2001 at the age of 17, and achieved a career-long ambition of winning the Sheffield Shield title the previous season, captaining them in the final in the absence of his brother Mitchell Marsh.
At the age of 39, Marsh decided to play out another season in 2022-23 but he has struggled with injury and has only managed one Shield game this summer.
Marsh’s retirement, which has just returned to Perth club cricket after suffering a finger fracture, is effective immediately, meaning he will not be part of WA’s bid to defend their title. They play Victoria at the WACA next week before hosting the final, starting on 23 March.
“This year in particular has been really difficult,” Marsh told reporters. “After winning the Shield final last year, I didn’t plan it.
“I had high hopes of winning myself another Shield but it didn’t work out the way I wanted because of injuries.”
Marsh finished as WA’s third-highest run-scorer in the Shield, with 8347 runs including 20 centuries. His 122 matches are the second most in WA history behind former captain Tom Moody.
But in a training session on Tuesday, he realized that his first-class career was over.
“I batted for about 20 minutes and the fast bowlers came… I told V [WA coach Adam Voges] I’m done and I want to weigh in [session]” said Marsh. “I probably weighed half my [session], I walked out and thought, ‘That’s not me’. In the last 24 hours it hit home that my time is up.
“It’s been an amazing journey, I never dreamed I’d be here 22 years and it’s something I’m very proud of.”
Marsh pays special tribute to his father Geoff MarshA former Test opening batsman and coach of Australia.
He said, “I fell in love with the game in my childhood when I was watching my father play.” “From a young age I wanted to be like him and he has had a huge impact on my career.”
Long recognized as a Test star, Marsh hit his maiden first-class ton aged 19 against a strong New South Wales team featuring Steve and Mark Waugh, Marsh scored a century against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2011 Off to a great start. ,
He emerged as the natural successor to Ricky Ponting at No.3, but suffered a calamitous slump in form against India at home in 2011–12, where he scored just 17 runs in six innings.
Inconsistency and injuries became a curse for the left-handed Marsh, whose stylish batting marked by elegant cover drives ensured that he continued to woo the national selectors.
But he was an enigma at the crease and, like younger brother Mitchell, faced the wrath of fans frustrated by the gulf in his performances.
Marsh’s highest Test score of 182 was made in 2015 against the West Indies at Hobart, where he shared a 449-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Voges. This is the second highest partnership in Australia’s Test history.
His Test peak was arguably during the 2017–18 Ashes series, where he scored centuries in Adelaide and Sydney. At the SCG, Marsh shared a memorable 169-run partnership with Mitchell, who also scored a century. This was the last of his six centuries, but he went on to play 10 more Tests over the next two years.
“Whenever you get a chance to represent your country… those memories will always be there,” he added.
Marsh played his last Test against India in January 2019, scoring 2265 Test runs at an average of 34.31 after providing an experienced presence following the sandpaper scandal. He has enjoyed more success in ODI cricket with an average of 40.77 from 73 matches and seven centuries.
Marsh, who turns 40 in July, will remain in the BBL. He has one season left on his contract with the Melbourne Renegades.