Mitchell Marsh aimed to bring a sense of joy to his family through a spectacular World Cup century, expressing his desire to put a smile on their faces in the aftermath of his grandfather's passing,
The versatile all-rounder's outstanding innings of 177 not out, ranking as the third-highest individual score by an Australian in a World Cup, unfolded during the commanding victory against Bangladesh in Pune.
Having briefly stepped away from the semi-finalists' squad to be with his grandfather Ross in his final days, Marsh reflected on the challenges faced by his family. He shared, "My pop was a great man and a huge cricket supporter. Obviously, it's been a challenging week for the family. It was nice to be able to perform for them and nice to get the win." Marsh, alongside his brother Shaun, an Australian international as well, found solace in the familial support amid the emotional week.
Expressing gratitude for the heartfelt gesture of his teammates, who donned black armbands during a match against England in Ahmedabad to honour his grandfather's memory, Marsh, watching from Perth, acknowledged the significance of these seemingly small acts.
Acknowledging the crucial role played by Australia's coach, Andrew 'Ronnie' McDonald, and captain Pat Cummins in allowing him to briefly leave and return to the squad, Marsh highlighted their unwavering support. He noted, "The fact that 'Ronnie' and Patty allowed me to go back without questioning anything, putting our family first, meant a lot to me."
Anticipating the upcoming semi-final clash against South Africa in Kolkata, Marsh conveyed his eagerness, emphasising their determination to overturn the previous pool-play defeat by the Proteas. He concluded, "I can't wait for the semi-final; it's going to be a ripper. We're bloody pumped to get to Kolkata."
