Mass changes as Marsh walks

Alex Carey produced the ultimate captain’s knock as the stand-in skipper rescued his rookie-filled Australian team with a half-century among a sub-par batting performance in the opening one-day international against the West Indies.

Mitch Marsh deciding to walk, but only after the home team reviewed a not-out decision for caught behind, produced some first innings controversy in Barbados after selectors had earlier made their own bold calls.

The tourists finished on 9-252 after three first-gamers – Josh Philippe, Ben McDermott and Wes Agar – were picked, with two players also called in from the ODI cold.

Matthew Wade played his first ODI in four years and West Australian slugger Ashton Turner his first 50-over game for Australia in 18 months.

South Australian seamer Agar was presented his cap in an emotional pre-match huddle by brother Ashton, who was then left out of the team that featured seven different players from the last Australian ODI against India last December.

Australia had not named three debutants for an international match since 2018 when Aaron Finch, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head all played their first Test in Dubai.

The last time three players made their ODI debut in the same match was almost a decade ago, in 2012-13, when Finch, Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja played against Sri Lanka.

Mitch Marsh ignites walking debate after ‘unbelievable’ act of defiance ?

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In the absence of captain and opener Aaron Finch, Philippe and McDermott opened the innings at Kensington Oval and put on a 51-run stand before wickets started to fall at regular intervals.

Marsh was out after edging a ball down the leg side to keeper Nicholas Pooran.

A loud West Indian appeal was turned down by umpire Joel Wilson, but when the bowling team went for the review, Marsh began to walk, knowing he was out, and was already at the boundary when the dismissal was confirmed.

Carey came in with his team 3-99 and, with Turner, put on a 104-run partnership that included a short rain interruption.

The skipper was out in the 45th over, and Turner couldn’t go on with it either, dismissed for 49, off just 45 balls, and the tailenders didn’t fare too well.

Wade made just three in the late chase for runs as boom West Indian spinner Hayden Walsh Jr was on a hat-trick, which he didn’t get. But he did take 5-39 to close out the Australian innings.

Australia lost the T20 series against the West Indies 4-1 and will play three ODIs.

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