Australian cricket star Mitch Marsh and wife Greta welcome first child ahead of Test series against India
Mitch Marsh and wife Greta have celebrated the birth of their first child just days out from Australia’s first Test against India in their hometown Perth.
The baby girl arrived on Sunday night but the Marshes, who married in April 2023, are yet to settle on a name.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Marsh, 32, jumped back into training on Monday morning in preparation for Friday’s opening day of the Border-Gavaskar series but was exempt from pre-planned media commitments.
“Everyone was very eager for him, very excited. It was a good feeling this morning coming here and seeing Mitch, and he’s going well,” teammate Travis Head said.
“Everyone was over the moon for him, and he was the same old Mitch. It’s an exciting week, and he’ll get what he needs to do.”
Remarkably, Marsh is one of three players entering the series celebrating the birth of a child while a fourth baby is set to arrive after the Border-Gavakar Trophy.
Head’s wife Jess gave birth to their second child earlier this month, son Harrison becoming a younger brother to the couple’s two-year-old daughter Milla.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and wife Ritika Sajdeh welcomed their second child on November 15, also adding a son into the mix as a sibling to six-year-old daughter Sammy.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins could take a similar path early next year.
The paceman and wife Becky are expecting their second child in late January or early February — when the Aussies will play two Tests in Sri Lanka.
He has previously spoken of wanting to be around for the first weeks of the newborn’s life after a tumultuous period for the couple after son Albie was born three years ago.
Marsh and Head were granted permission to sit out Australia’s white-ball matches against Pakistan this month to focus on their family.
While Marsh has been thrown into the deep end, Head said the timing of his child’s birth worked out perfectly ahead of the Test series.
Head’s last competitive match was South Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash with NSW in early October when he made 30 and 10.
It is stark contrast to the lead-in for last summer, when Australia were coming off the busiest year in their cricket history after a tour of India, an away Ashes, and the successful ODI World Cup campaign.
“I could play every single day if I wanted to,” Head said, adding he had never found fatigue greatly affected him.
“For me, it’s about how I can maximise my family time.
“I want to have a family when I come home, and playing every single day doesn’t allow me to do that.
“But tired, or not tired, it doesn’t really faze me. I’ve been through the grind before, but I’m feeling good.”
- with AAP
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
