Axed Australian Test all-rounder Mitch Marsh admitted he hasn't been feeling the love from the public after a difficult summer.
Marsh was left out of the Australian side that headed to Sri Lanka for their two-Test series, after struggling to have an impact during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and being dropped before the SCG match.
And while he was overjoyed to be part of the series win over India on home soil, he felt the outside pressure calling for his axing.
But he didn't acknowledge the doubters without some humour.
"I think (the successful year) it was capped off by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, especially with 10 players, especially without me, they did very well," he joked at the Allan Border Medal on Monday night.
Mitchell Marsh attends the 2025 Cricket Australia Awards at Crown Palladium. Getty Images for Cricket Austral
As for how he has been managing the outside noise, the all-rounder admits it hasn't been easy.
"Prior to December, I felt a lot of love," Marsh laughed.
"Post December, a bit of a different story."
But through it all, the veteran hasn't lost his class.
That maturity was on display when he was axed for the final Test against India at the SCG, with all-rounder Beau Webster earning his debut.
Marsh made sure to greet and hug all of Webster's family on the SCG despite his own sorrows.
And that positive attitude seems to be keeping the 33-year-old motivated to have an impact after he returns from injury.
Mitch Marsh hasn't played any Test cricket since being axed before the SCG Test. Getty
"All jokes aside, over the past few years I have felt a lot of love from the Australian fans," he said.
Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, with "ongoing lower back pain and dysfunction".
Cricket Australia confirmed recently that Marsh will miss the ODI tournament in Pakistan and the UAE later this month.
It leaves his international career in limbo.
