SYDNEY: When Mitchell Marsh stunned England with a five-wicket haul in co-hosts Australia's 111-run thrashing of England in their opening World Cup match it represented the latest chapter in a remarkable family history.
Saturday's match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was Marsh's World Cup debut and his return came 28 years after his father, Geoff Marsh, marked his first match in the tournament with a hundred against India at Madras (Chennai).
Australia went on to win the 1987 World Cup, with opener Marsh a mainstay of the side.
Marsh's eldest son, Shaun, a batsman, has also followed him into the international arena and just missed out on selection for Australia's squad.
After presenting Mitchell with his prized 'baggy green' cap, Marsh joked "speak to my wife, we should have kept going!" as he confirmed his own personal production line of international cricketers was at an end.
Marsh is not the only player at this World Cup looking to emulate his father by lifting the trophy.
Medium-pacer Roger Binny was one of the stars of India's shock success in winning the 1983 World Cup.
Not only is his son Stuart a bowler of similar type, but Roger Binny is now a member of India's selection panel and, inevitably, there have been accusations of nepotism.
However, India great Sunil Gavaskar insisted such charges were wide of the mark.
"Stuart Binny will be handy with bat and ball in Australia and New Zealand. It's (his selection) not because he is Roger Binny's son," Gavaskar told NDTV, adding Roger Binny always removed himself from selection meetings when Stuart's name came up for consideration.
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