'There's a breaking point': Marsh withdraws from IPL

Former Australia batter Adam Voges has backed Mitch Marsh's decision to withdraw from the upcoming Indian Premier League, saying some players around the country are reaching a "breaking point" following a gruelling season of cricket in bio-secure environments.

Marsh on Thursday became the third Australian in three weeks to withdraw from the IPL, joining Josh Hazlewood and Josh Philippe in citing the toll of a long campaign that began last August with Australia's tour of England.

Marsh recently completed yet another stint of quarantine in Perth following the recent tour of New Zealand and he's coming to the end of a long campaign that has included 25 games of cricket in four countries in seven months.

But it's been life off the field that has been particularly taxing for cricketers in the time of a global pandemic, with players effectively restricted to their hotel for much of the time between games.

Facing the prospect of another seven-day quarantine period in India ahead of the IPL, a tournament that lasts nearly two months, and then a strict two-week stint in hotel isolation upon his return to Australia, Marsh has instead opted to stay at home and play out the rest of the domestic season with WA.

"It's been a long summer, a long 12 months for a lot of players," Voges, Marsh's coach at WA and the Perth Scorchers, said.

"And with hubs and bubbles and quarantine and travel, there's a breaking point for a lot of players.

"For Mitch, he felt the best option was to stay at home. He was really keen to play the back end of the season for Western Australia, which we're really excited about, and it's a decision he's made and he's really comfortable with that.

"I think the idea of getting back on the road was something he wasn't prepared to do, so he's made that call and we're excited that he's available for us."

Marsh had been retained for $A361,000 by his Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise following last year's tournament. He's been replaced in the Sunrisers' squad by England batter and Scorchers teammate, Jason Roy.

Having flown to the UAE last September following Australia's UK tour, Marsh played just one game in the 2020 tournament before suffering a serious ankle injury, which led to a frantic scramble for a flight home and a 14-day stint in a hotel room in Perth.

Marsh's home state, Western Australia, has implemented the toughest border policy in the country during the pandemic, meaning he and his fellow WA players were forced to isolate for the past two weeks following the NZ tour, even though his teammates from the eastern states weren't required to.

Most of Australia's IPL contingent flew to India on Thursday ahead of the tournament, which starts on April 9.

Cricket.com.au reported on Thursday that in addition to the withdrawals of Marsh, Hazlewood and Philippe, some other Australian players had considered pulling out due to the mental and physical strain of a long campaign.

"It's been a long 10 months in bubbles and quarantine at different times, so I decided to have a rest from cricket and spend some time at home and in Australia in the next two months," Hazlewood told cricket.com.au in announcing his decision to turn down his deal with the Chennai Super Kings.

"We've got a big winter ahead too. The West Indies is going to be a long tour, with Bangladesh (T20 tour) potentially thrown on the end of that.

"Then potentially the T20 World Cup leading into the Ashes, so it's a big 12 months, as it always is with Australia, and I want to give myself the best chance to be mentally and physically ready for that.

"That's the decision I've made, and it sits pretty well with me."

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