Asia-Pacific Tour | Shaun Marsh joins us at the WACA: “It’s a privilege to be here”

The famous WACA has been Aussie cricket legend Shaun Marsh’s ‘home’ for over 20 years – today, he enjoyed something new on the hallowed turf, courtesy of Spurs.

Former Aussie Test batsman Shaun - an international across all cricketing formats for 11 years - joined us for our first training session in Perth as the squad’s pre-season work started in earnest on our Asia-Pacific Tour.

Shaun began his career as a junior at Western Australia, eventually making his debut at the WACA in March, 2001. In March this year, 22 years later, he announced his retirement from first-class cricket, bowing out as Western Australia’s all-time leading run scorer (12,811 runs in 236 matches), ahead of the likes of Justin Langer, Tom Moody and Mike Hussey.

Watching training from the Lillee Marsh Stand on a sunny Sunday morning in Perth, it was no surprise to learn that Shaun’s a big football fan, and was asked him if, during his 20 years plus gracing the WACA, that he’d ever thought he’d see the day that a Premier League squad was training on the pitch he knows so well...

“No, not at all,” he said. “I’m a massive fan of the EPL so, to be here today to watch Tottenham train, to see Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and the rest of the squad here, for myself, for my son who is here as well... we’re extremely privileged to be here.

“The WACA is such an iconic cricket ground. From a young age coming here with my dad (Geoff) when he was playing cricket for Western Australia, we’ve enjoyed so many great memories here as a family and to be able to play here for 22 years, 15 with my brother, it’s been a huge part of my life.

“I love coming here and I love playing here. It’s such a beautiful cricket ground, it’s lovely to see soccer here today and watching these players at the WACA.”

A century-maker in the 2017/18 Ashes series in Australia, not surprisingly, Shaun is following the current series closely - not least with his brother, Mitchell, scoring a ton last time out at Headingley. That proved in vain though as England won the third Test by three wickets to make it 2-1 to the Aussies with two Tests to go - next up, Old Trafford, starting on Wednesday.

“As an Australian - and I’m sure the English would say the same – when you get an opportunity to play in the Ashes, it’s the pinnacle of the sport,” said Shaun, who played in 38 Tests for the Baggy Greens. “The rivalry and competitive nature that comes with the Ashes just goes to a whole new level.

“I think you’ve seen that in the current Ashes series so far. The competitive nature of it, the way the fans are getting engaged, the way the players are engaging, it’s been incredible cricket so far. Every session of every Test has been on the edge of your seats stuff.

“It’s tight, I think it could go down to the wire. England winning the last Test has breathed fire back into the series. Manchester will be a great Test now, no doubt. The Ashes just brings out a whole new level of cricket. That’s what we’re seeing at the moment.”