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Mitch Marsh doesn't expect Test recall despite ODI form

Mitchell Marsh was understandably upset after being given out last night
6th December, 2016
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All-rounder Mitch Marsh admits his chances of a Test recall this summer are slim despite finding some form with Australia’s one-day side.

Marsh’s unbeaten 76 off 40 balls in Canberra on Tuesday helped Australia regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with a 116-run ODI win over New Zealand.

The dashing innings, capped by three consecutive sixes off the bowling of Matt Henry in the final over, provided a timely confidence boost for Marsh after a frustrating start to the summer.

Marsh was dropped from the Test side after failing with both the bat and ball in Australia’s series-opening loss to South Africa in Perth.

An undeniably talented batsman, Marsh has only surpassed 50 twice in his 19 Test appearances and averages just 23.18 at Test level, compared to 38.68 in ODIs.

Marsh admitted it was hard to explain the disparity.

“If I knew, I probably wouldn’t have been dropped from the Test team,” he joked on Wednesday.

“That’s probably something I’ve got to work out over the next few months. I’ve obviously got the Big Bash but throughout that period, you’ve got a lot of time to work on your game so I’ll certainly be doing that.

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“Hopefully in the second half of the year when I get a chance in the (Sheffield) Shield, I can perform. I’m not in a rush to get back in the Test side but I know that I’ve got to score runs to get back, so that’s all I want to do.”

While Marsh is unlikely to play in Australia’s three-match Test series against Pakistan starting in Brisbane next Thursday, he may be considered for February’s tour of India given his experience on the subcontinent.

But regardless of the format, Marsh says his focus over the summer will be on playing his natural, attacking game – something coach Darren Lehmann has encouraged.

“When you’re not scoring runs, you tend to try playing with things in the nets to try and make something work,” he said.

“I think in red ball cricket, over the last couple of years, I probably haven’t played my natural game.

“For me, I’m a hitter of the cricket ball. Probably over the next few months, I’m just going to bat like that and really back myself.

“I might get out a few ugly ways at times but I feel like it’s going to give me the best chance to score runs and score big runs.”

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With the Test series coming up, selectors are likely to be tempted to rest one or both of Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc for Friday’s ODI at the MCG.

But Marsh said Australia weren’t considering the game as a dead-rubber.

“We’re representing our country in the series and we want to win 3-0,” he said.

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