Marsh, a key figure in the Australia limited-overs set-up, was ruled out of the upcoming event last month due to a back injury and national selectors have until February 12 to finalise his replacement and submit their final squad of 15 to the ICC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia haven\u2019t named a replacement yet, but Ponting suggested Owen's name, who dominated the recent Big Bash League, and thinks the 23-year-old can make the step up to international level quickly if given the chance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
I'm not sure which way they'll go to be honest. I don't know if you guys have been watching the BBL (Big Bash League), but we've had one young kid that's just emerged out of nowhere, a kid called Mitch Owen, who has opened the batting for the Hobart Hurricanes,\u201d Ponting said on The ICC Review.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the BBL, Owen led the run-scoring charts with 452 runs at a sensational strike rate of 203.60. He also managed to get three scalps with his medium pace and ended up winning a contract with Paarl Royals in the SA20 league.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"He's also an all-rounder, probably more suited (as a replacement for Marsh). I mean, Mitch Marsh has batted in the top three in one-day cricket, mostly in the last couple of years anyway.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cMitch Owen has opened the batting in T20 cricket and opened the batting for Tasmania in the (domestic ODI competition) Marsh Cup this season, which is our 50-over format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Look, honestly I'd be surprised if it is him, but I think the selectors now know that there is a really high-quality replacement there,\" Ponting added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England on February 22 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Look, honestly I'd be surprised if it is him, but I think the selectors now know that there is a really high-quality replacement there,\" Ponting added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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