Contrary to his original plan to avoid red-ball cricket in December, Mitch Marsh made his return to Sheffield Shield action for the first time since October 2024 as his cherished Western Australia aim to hand top-ranked Victoria only their second defeat of the season while halting their own slide to the bottom of the standings.

Before the match, there was talk that Marsh might be a surprise pick for the latter stages of the Ashes as a potential opener—a position he holds in Australia's limited overs side—which seemed unlikely when he was named to bat at three for WA on Thursday morning.

Victoria chose to have Western Australia bat first on a green MCG wicket, and Marsh was at the crease within 25 minutes after Sam Whiteman was caught behind off a sharp Mitch Perry delivery that rose from a good length and brushed the outside edge of his bat.

Marsh played two elegant pull shots square of the wicket against Perry’s fast bowling, pleasing even the few Victorian fans at the MCG, before carelessly edging to wicketkeeper Sam Harper after advancing down the pitch against Perry.

The Australian Test team may need a new opener soon if the inexperienced Jake Weatherald fails to start his career strongly, keeping Marsh as a viable option if he can recover in the second innings.