Geoff Marsh emotional after giving son Mitchell green cap

The Marsh clan: Mitchell's mother Michelle, sister Melissa, Mitchell and dad Geoff. Pics/Getty Images

Dubai: Former Australia Test batsman Geoff Marsh was a proud and emotional man yesterday when he had to present the fabled baggy green cap to his younger son Mitchell.


The Marsh clan: Mitchell's mother Michelle, sister Melissa, Mitchell and dad Geoff. Pics/Getty Images

Marsh Jr joined Steve O'Keefe in Australia's Test line-up of two Test debutants against Pakistan at the Dubai Sports Stadium for the opening Test.

"It was a real honour to be asked to do it (present the baggy green). It was just pleasing, more pleasing that he's got the opportunity to play Test cricket," Geoff was quoted as saying in the Australian media. "I'm pleased for both my boys. They followed me around while I was playing Test cricket and coaching Australia.


Steve O'Keefe with partner Charlotte

"Deep down you could see it in their eyes they wanted to follow in those footsteps and now they've both been given that opportunity," said Geoff, who coached Australia to victory in the 1999 World Cup. Geoff was a member of Australia's first World Cup-winning squad in 1987.

Recently, skipper Michael Clarke told the media that Micthell could fit into a leadership role in the future.

Captain's pat
"It's nice to hear the Australian captain say things like that. Test cricket puts out a lot of challenges, you've got to meet those challenges and you only do that through good focus and concentration and working hard," said Geoff, whose first son Shaun made his Test debut for Australia in 2011.

Geoff and his wife alongwith daughter Melissa were in Dubai to witness Mitchell's big day.

Meanwhile, O'Keefe (no relation to former Test spinner and current commentator Kerry) had his partner Charlotte in Dubai and she posed with her man after he received the baggy green from erstwhile Australia batsman Dean Jones.