After a chat with his father and some long discussions with several of Australia’s cricket Test stars, Shaun Marsh was convinced his Test prospects would be best served by moving from No.3 to opener for Western Australia.
Marsh is one of Australia’s brightest talents following his remarkable success in the inaugural Indian Premier League and his sparkling start to his one-day international career.
But despite his meteoric rise in the past year Marsh is not yet content, with the son of former Test opener Geoff Marsh now eyeing a coveted Test berth at the top of Australia’s order.
To achieve this goal, the 25-year-old left-hander will open the batting for WA with fellow youngster Liam Davis — the pair replacing Chris Rogers (Victoria) and the retired Justin Langer.
With Matthew Hayden’s days in Test ranks numbered and Simon Katich and Phil Jaques yet to fully cement their spot as opener, Marsh feels there will soon be a Test opening for him should his form warrant selection.
“I’m really looking forward to opening the batting with Liam and giving it a good crack up there and obviously in my high aspirations, that’s the place where I should be batting,” Marsh said at the Warriors’ season launch today.
“I’ve had a few good chats with senior players in the Australian team and I had a chat with them and they said it’s a really good opportunity for me to get up there.
“I’ve had a good chat with Dad about it and a lot of the other senior players.
“I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself. I’m just going to go out there and enjoy my cricket and if it happens, it happens.
“There’s not too much of a difference than where I was last year batting at three.
“Obviously you’re out there facing the new ball and I did a lot of times last season.”
Coach Tom Moody declared WA cricket had entered a new era following the retirements of Langer, Brad Hogg and Adam Gilchrist.
The Warriors have not won a Sheffield Shield since 1998/99, while their last one-day title was in 2003/04.
“It is an opportunity for a new crop of cricketers to come through and stamp their authority in the competition and they have got the potential not only to form as a team but be a very successful team,” Moody said.
“But on an individual basis, there’s an opportunity for a number of players to be the next stars of the future on the international stage.
WA kick off their season with a one-day fixture against NSW on October 8 followed by a four-dayer starting October 10.
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