'Did Your Father Not Teach You' - Gavaskar-Marsh's Hilarious Banter

image-lntuxl3iMitch Marsh alongside Gavaskar [Twitter]

Age was no barrier for a humorous conversation between Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar and young Australian opener Mitchell Marsh after Australia's comeback win in the league-stage encounter of the ICC World Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka on Monday (October 16). 

Gavaskar tried to pull Marsh's legs after his blistering knock of 52 set up Australia's comprehensive five-wicket victory versus the Lankan Lions. The Indian maestro asked if Marsh's father, former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Rod Marsh, didn't teach him the forward defensive stroke. 

To this, Mitchell, who is part of a rich cricketing family with his brother Shaun Marsh also having represented the country at the highest level, came up with a hilarious response, insisting his aggressive batting at the top of the order is partly a quest to make-up for father Rod's slow strike-rate. 

Marsh's Amusing Response To Gavaskar's Funny Question 

As he watched Marsh's imposing knock closely from the commentary box for host broadcaster Star Sports, Gavaskar brought his humourous avatar to a post-match interaction and gestured a forward defensive stroke to ask the Aussie batter whether his father ever taught him to dead-bat the bowling. 

The player took a jibe at his father's strike rate in his heyday as a cricketer from 1971 to 1984 to respond to Gavaskar, who erupted in great laughter at the youngster's sense of humour. Even co-commentator and Marsh's former limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch couldn't help but offer a wide grin in the moment. 

"Did your father not teach you to bat like this (gestures playing a defensive shot)?" Gavaskar asked, before Marsh responded: "I am making up for his poor strike rate."

Notably, Rod Marsh was one of the quicker-scoring wicketkeeper-batters of his times in One-Day Internationals. The senior Marsh had a strike-rate of 82.86 in the lower middle-order for Australia and is still regarded as among the finest glovers seen at the international stage. 

Unfortunately, the Aussie legend passed away in March last year after suffering a heart attack at the age of 74. Rod contributed to Australian cricket in various capacities. Following his retirement, Marsh joined the coaching field following commentary stints and was also an ex chairman of selectors for Cricket Australia (CA).