Ashes 2019 | Hopefully I'll win the Australian fans over one day, says Mitchell Marsh

When it was announced that Mitchell Marsh was going to play in the fifth Test ahead of Travis Head, there was already discontentment within the Aussie fans, with several people expressing their anger on social media over the inclusion of the all-rounder. Often in the past, Marsh has been given opportunities to succeed but has failed to keep hold of his spot, so much so that the fans have dread seeing his name on the team sheet.

But things took a turn for the good on Thursday, as the Western Australia claimed four English scalps to turn the day on its head for Australia. Now, after his heroics, Marsh hopes that he can win over the Aussie fans sometime in the future, while also acknowledging the fact that he is "hated" by most people back home.

"Australians are very passionate, they love their cricket, they want people to do well. There's no doubt I've had a lot of opportunity at Test level and I haven't quite nailed it, but hopefully they can respect me for the fact I keep coming back and I love playing for Australia, I love the baggy green cap and I'll keep trying and hopefully I'll win them over one day," Marsh said in the press conference post Day 1, reported ESPNcricinfo.

Marsh, who warmed the bench in the first four Tests, said that he wanted to influence the team positively, even if it meant by carrying drinks. Often criticized for his stature and weight, Marsh also revealed that he has worked hard on his fitness and that coach Justin Langer challenged him to get as fit as he can. 

"I wanted to come here and have a positive influence on this group, i think I've done that running the drinks and I just waited for my opportunity. There's no secret JL's certainly challenged me from a fitness perspective, he wanted me to get fitter and stronger and over the last six months I've put everything I've had into it," he said.

"I've certainly changed my lifestyle a little bit, I'm waking up every day trying to be the best cricketer I can be, and today was good reward for that but it's one day of a Test match," he added.

Marsh, who has primarily been given a holding role with the ball in the past, said it was a pleasant surprise when Langer came up to him yesterday and asked him to attack with the ball. The advice eventually paid dividends for the 27-year-old, who claimed four wickets, including the big one of Ben Stokes. 

"I think in the past my role as a bowler has been to hold an end. JL came up to me before the start of play and at lunch time and he just said 'go for it, attack, bowl the way you want to bowl', and I was a little bit, not shocked, but it gave me the confidence to go out there and give it everything I had.

"Maybe a change of mentality allowed me to bowl a bit more attackingly as a player and it was fun. I want to be the best I can be at both batting and bowling, I don't really want to pigeonhole one of them," Marsh concluded.