EXCLUSIVE: Brett Lee backs Mitchell Marsh as captain despite shocking T20 World Cup exit

Brett Lee

Given the conditions, Australia were one of the favourites to win the T20 World Cup 2024. They started like a champion side, winning all their four matches in the group stage. Things however changed drastically in the Super Eights. The Mitchell Marsh-led side defeated Bangladesh by 28 runs (DLS method) in their first game but suffered back-to-back defeats against Afghanistan and India, which led to their shocking exit from the tournament.

Notably, ahead of the mega tournament, Pat Cummins decided to step down as captain and handed the baton to Mitchell Marsh, despite him not having enough experience as a leader. On the contrary, Cummins led Australia to glory in the World Test Championship Final and ODI World Cup in 2023 and could have done a hat-trick, but the pacer interestingly wanted to step down despite leading Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Finch decodes Australia’s disappointing campaign at T20 World Cup 2024

Former cricketer Brett Lee engaged in an exclusive interaction with CricTracker, and refused to comment on the change in leadership in the Australian team, as he wasn’t aware of the process. However, the veteran bowler backed Marsh as the captain of the team and added that the leader cannot always win games on their back. Notably, the 32-year-old all-rounder had a terrific season with the bat, which helped him win the Allan Border Medal, but come the T20 World Cup, he failed to deliver.

Lee also added that he understood the reason behind Cummins wanting to take a break from captaincy, as it’s not an easy job. Leading a top-tier side in all three formats is demanding and even though Lee isn’t sure of the reason, he backed Cummins’ decision.

Also Read: Brett Lee reacts to T20I retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja 

“It’s very hard for me to make a comment on that because I’m not around that inner sanctum. I don’t understand whether it was the call that Pat Cummings didn’t want to captain the T20 World Cup. I don’t know whether they wanted to go down a different road and maybe blood another younger guy in to Mitchell Marsh and maybe take the workload off Pat Cummins, it’s very hard to speculate,” Lee told CricTracker.

“But all I know is that when you do pick a captain, you have to back the captain 100%. He’s out there trying his hardest. The captain can’t always win the game. And I think that when you have had the success as Pat Cummins has had, though, he’s done a great job as captain and as leader. Maybe he wanted a break. But as I said, that’s just purely speculation. I don’t know anything else,” the speedster added.

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The side recently defeated India Champions to solidify their place for the semi-finals, and thus, the side has become one of the strongest contenders for the title. The team also consists of veteran cricketers like Shaun Marsh, Aaron Finch, and Nathan Coulter-Nile among others.