The evolution of Mitchell Marsh
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Sep-2014
There was a time when the biggest concerns around Mitchell Marsh were that his prodigious gifts would be lost to off-field distractions. On the tour to Zimbabwe, however, Marsh has given ample indication of his value as an allrounder and also made himself a possibility for Australia's World Cup squad. Ben Horne, in the Age, looks at Marsh's persona, and finds a character reference from the current tour of Zimbabwe.
The driver of the Australian team bus in Harare, a man called Kelvin, has thanked Marsh for "making his life."
Kelvin has two children and a third on the way. He earns $US500 ($A540) a month, with 60 per cent of that going to rent.
Sometimes he gets paid on time; sometimes it's a day late, or two, or seven.
Electricity cuts are a regular occurrence at their home, making cooking for his 12-year-old son and five-year-old daughter almost impossible at times.
Marsh heard Kelvin's story and marched straight into town, to buy the children backpacks and shoes for school. He also purchased a new mobile phone for Kelvin and a solar light and gas cooker for his wife.