Mitchell Marsh did not get a place in the test team. (Photo-Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The Ashes 2025-26: Australia's team has been announced for the first test match of the Ashes series against England. The first test match will be played in Perth from 21 November. Due to injury to Pat Cummins, veteran batsman Steve Smith has been given the command of the team. ODI and T20I team captain Mitchell Marsh has not been given a place in this team. Last month, Mitchell Marsh surprised everyone by talking about drinking beer during the Perth Test match. This talk weighed heavily on him and perhaps that is why he has not been given a place in the team. Chief Selector George Bailey has also said a big thing on this matter.

What did George Bailey say?

Chief Selector of Australia george bailey Gave the reason for Mitchell Marsh not being selected in Australia's team for the first Ashes Test. He said that we went to ICC and the issue there was that they do not allow umpires to take breathalyzers on the field. If he has drank six beers by the time the first ball is bowled, it will be a problem.

During an interview last month, Mitchell Marsh jokingly said about playing in the Ashes, “I would have drank six beers by lunch on the first day of the Perth Test match.” He further said that but I will never say no about playing Test cricket again. Its video went quite viral on social media. Mitchell Marsh last played a Test match against Team India in December 2024. After this he has not got a chance to play in this format.

“I'll be six beers deep by lunch on day one.”

White-ball captain and man of the match, Mitch Marsh says he'd “never say never” to playing Test cricket, but admits it looks unlikely for the Ashes.🏏⚱️

💻📝 Read more: https://t.co/307aQO8YoA#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/dyquIIQwoT

— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) October 19, 2025

Michael Vaughan gave this suggestion

Mitchell Marsh Former England captain Michael Vaughan had given a suggestion last month. He had said that Marsh should open in the first Test of the Ashes series. On this, Marsh said that the only thought in his mind about the Ashes is that he has tickets for the first two days.

After this, on ABC Radio, former coach Darren Lehmann asked Marsh whether he wanted to create more openings in the team? So Marsh again laughed off this suggestion. Mitchell Marsh has played 46 test matches so far. In his 80 innings he has scored 2083 runs at an average of 28.53. This includes 3 centuries and 9 half-centuries. During this period he has also taken 51 wickets.