Mitchell Marsh of Australia in action against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground on October 22, 2022. Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh of Australia in action against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground on October 22, 2022. Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh of Australia in action against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground on October 22, 2022. Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh of Australia in action against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground on October 22, 2022. Getty Images

Mitchell Marsh: Australia 'hard to stop' despite opening defeat


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Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh says the defending champions were confident of bouncing back from their opening defeat at the T20 World Cup declaring: "Our best is the best in the world".

The hosts suffered a crushing loss by 89 runs to New Zealand in the tournament opener on Saturday and face Sri Lanka, who won their first match of the Super 12, in Perth on Tuesday.

Australia are set to keep faith with the same team Tuesday and Marsh said he was confident they can turn their fortunes around.

"I think that we've got a lot of confidence in our group that once we get on a roll we're going to be very hard to stop," Marsh told reporters.

"Obviously we didn't start well the other night, but we've got great self-belief.

"We know our best is the best in the world. So hopefully, we can turn it around against Sri Lanka.

"[It's] the nature of the tournament. You lose one game, your back is up against the wall. Hopefully we play well, get past that. Then we move on to England."

New Zealand beat Australia

  • New Zealand players leave the field after victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup 2022 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 22, 2022. AFP
    New Zealand players leave the field after victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup 2022 at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 22, 2022. AFP
  • Australia's Josh Hazlewood leaves the field as New Zealand players celebrate their win. EPA
    Australia's Josh Hazlewood leaves the field as New Zealand players celebrate their win. EPA
  • New Zealand players celebrate a wicket during the T20 World Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. AFP
    New Zealand players celebrate a wicket during the T20 World Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. AFP
  • Trent Boult celebrates with teammates after bowling Australia's Mitchell Starc. AFP
    Trent Boult celebrates with teammates after bowling Australia's Mitchell Starc. AFP
  • Trent Boult reacts after bowling during the match between Australia and New Zealand. Getty
    Trent Boult reacts after bowling during the match between Australia and New Zealand. Getty
  • New Zealand's Devon Conway bats during the T20 World Cup cricket match against Australia. AP
    New Zealand's Devon Conway bats during the T20 World Cup cricket match against Australia. AP
  • Devon Conway celebrates his half century against Australia. Getty
    Devon Conway celebrates his half century against Australia. Getty
  • New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, left, congratulates teammate Devon Conway after he reached 50 runs. AP
    New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, left, congratulates teammate Devon Conway after he reached 50 runs. AP
  • New Zealand's Finn Allen plays a shot over the boundary during the match against Australia. AFP
    New Zealand's Finn Allen plays a shot over the boundary during the match against Australia. AFP
  • New Zealand's Finn Allen and Devon Conway run between the wickets. AFP
    New Zealand's Finn Allen and Devon Conway run between the wickets. AFP

Perth-born Marsh knows The WACA all too well and believes conditions at his home ground will give Australia the edge over Sri Lanka, who are largely dependent on their spin attack.

"We know these conditions very well. And the stadium should suit us more than them," said Marsh.

Marsh backed the team's quick bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who were expensive against New Zealand, to come good at Perth.

"We'll certainly have an aggressive approach. I think certainly after the other night we'll see a big response from them," Marsh predicted.

Sri Lanka crush Ireland

  • Kusal Mendis plays a shot over the boundary for six as Sri Lanka win the T20 World Cup match against Ireland at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on October 23, 2022. AFP
    Kusal Mendis plays a shot over the boundary for six as Sri Lanka win the T20 World Cup match against Ireland at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on October 23, 2022. AFP
  • Kusal Mendis plays a shot over the boundary for six to win the match for Sri Lanka. AFP
    Kusal Mendis plays a shot over the boundary for six to win the match for Sri Lanka. AFP
  • Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka bump gloves during the match at Bellerive Oval. AFP
    Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka bump gloves during the match at Bellerive Oval. AFP
  • Charith Asalanka plays a shot during the match between Sri Lanka and Ireland. AFP
    Charith Asalanka plays a shot during the match between Sri Lanka and Ireland. AFP
  • Charith Asalanka plays a shot watched by Ireland wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker. AFP
    Charith Asalanka plays a shot watched by Ireland wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker. AFP
  • Dhananjaya de Silva plays a shot off the bowling of Ireland's Mark Adair. AFP
    Dhananjaya de Silva plays a shot off the bowling of Ireland's Mark Adair. AFP
  • Dhananjaya de Silva takes a tumble during the match between Sri Lanka and Ireland. AFP
    Dhananjaya de Silva takes a tumble during the match between Sri Lanka and Ireland. AFP
  • Dhananjaya de Silva reacts after a shot. AFP
    Dhananjaya de Silva reacts after a shot. AFP
  • Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana celebrates the wicket of Ireland's Lorcan Tucker. AFP
    Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana celebrates the wicket of Ireland's Lorcan Tucker. AFP
  • Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana celebrates the wicket of Ireland's Lorcan Tucker. AFP
    Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana celebrates the wicket of Ireland's Lorcan Tucker. AFP
  • Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara celebrates his wicket of Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie. AFP
    Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara celebrates his wicket of Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie. AFP
  • Ireland's Paul Stirling plays a shot watched by Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis. AFP
    Ireland's Paul Stirling plays a shot watched by Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis. AFP
  • Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling bump gloves during the match. AFP
    Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling bump gloves during the match. AFP
  • Paul Stirling walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal. AFP
    Paul Stirling walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal. AFP

Sri Lankan spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga played a key part in the team's opening nine-wicket cruise past Ireland on Sunday.

The pair troubled the Australians when they toured Sri Lanka in June but conditions are likely to be different in Australia.

"Hopefully spin doesn't play a huge factor in Perth and we can look to really attack them," said Marsh.

"They're two key bowlers and if we can get on top of them then I think we'll be ahead of the game."

Theekshana said Sri Lanka are oozing confidence after their thumping win over Ireland but were wary of the wounded hosts.

"They lost to New Zealand and we won, so we have got the confidence more than the Australian team," Theekshana, who returned impressive figures of 2-19 on Sunday, told reporters.

"Always nice to win a game and our hope is always to go for the four teams, so we have to beat them.

"They have very good fast bowlers and spinners also. They are last year's champions, so they have to bounce back if they want to be in the tournament."

Updated: October 24, 2022, 8:01 AM