COLOMBO: Skipper Mitchell Marsh’s fitness will be watched closely as an injury-hit Australia look to tackle Zimbabwe to move closer to the Super Eights stage in a Group ‘B’ match of the T20 World Cup here on Friday.

Marsh missed his side’s big win over Ireland on Wednesday with an internal testicular bleeding and, according to Cricket Australia, the all-rounder will require a considerable period of rest before returning to action.

Steve Smith has joined the squad as his cover, but the absence of Marsh did not feel in Australia’s 67-run romp here as they produced an all-round effort against the Irish.

Without any of the batters reaching a fifty, they posted a strong 180-plus total before pacer Nathan Ellis and leg-spinner Adam Zampa shared eight wickets between them to give their side two points.

But the Aussies would like to better that effort against Zimbabwe, with some heavy runs from opener Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell in the middle overs.

Former skipper Smith, whose last T20 International was in February 2024, was in roaring form for Sydney Sixers in the recent Big Bash League, plundering 299 runs in just six innings at an average of 59 and at a strike-rate of 167.

The Aussies will require their big guns in fine fettle against Zimbabwe, who have the ability to surprise better-placed teams.

Oman might not be a leading team, but the efficient manner in which Zimbabwe dismantled them was an eye opener. They have pacers like Brad Evans, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava who can test the best on their day.

Veteran Sikandar Raza’s mixed bag of off and leg breaks adds another dimension to their attack.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2026