Mitchell Marsh plays for LSG in IPL | Source- AFP
The European T20 Premier League (ETPL 2026) may have faced one of its biggest losses this season, with Mitchell Marsh set to miss the inaugural season.
Marsh, along with Steve Smith, was signed by the Steve Waugh-led consortium that owns ETPL’s Amsterdam Flames. The Aussie big-hitter and T20I captain was named to captain the franchise as well.
Mitchell Marsh, Amsterdam Flames captain, set to skip ETPL 2026
According to a report by Code Sports’ Daniel Cherny, the Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is out of this year's ETPL, leaving the captaincy slot open at the Amsterdam Flames.
Reportedly, the all-rounder has decided to skip the European T20 league to prepare for the white-ball series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"Australian white-ball opener Mitch Marsh has pulled out of a planned European T20 Premier League stint with the Amsterdam Flames," the report by Code Sports stated.
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"Marsh had been due to lead the side which also includes Steve Smith and is co-owned by Steve Waugh, but has decided to zero in on his preparations for Australia’s white-ball series in Zimbabwe and South Africa next month," it added.
Although the franchise has not officially confirmed, the Amsterdam team will play their curtain-raiser against Rotterdam Dockers on August 26.
Interestingly, Amsterdam signed former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane for the inaugural ETPL 2026 after the ex-KKR captain called time on his Indian cricket career.
If Marsh is out, Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane and Michael Bracewell are among the front-runners to lead the Flames.
Mitchell Marsh, the hero for Sunrisers Leeds in Hundred 2026
Mitchell Marsh has been in top form since the fag-end of his stint at the LSG in IPL 2026, where he summed up the season with a couple of odd 90-run knocks.
Meanwhile, during his maiden stint at the Hundred for Sunrisers Leeds, the Aussie big-hitter set the stage on fire, racking up 416 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 169.80. He ended the season as the highest run-getter of the season, helping the Sunrisers qualify for the playoffs.
However, the Orange Army were knocked out in Eliminator 1 by the eventual champions, Manchester Super Giants.
Mitchell Marsh set to prioritise Australia’s ODI sssignments over ETPL 2026?
Although Mitchell Marsh’s reason for missing out on the ETPL 2026 is not revealed officially, it has surely something to do with the upcoming white-ball series in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Australia hit a rough patch during the Darwin Test vs Bangladesh, prompting Cricket Australia to already start preparations to harvest the next crop, as indicated by Pat Cummins.
With Cummins himself returning for the upcoming white-ball tours, Marsh may also be included as an integral part of the ODI setup. That said, the AUS vs ZIM ODIs will kickstart on September 15, five days before the ETPL 2026 final.
Notably, the next-in-line Australian batters and fast bowlers are set to be given chances in the upcoming series, along with their star players.
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