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“I know my game is good enough at this level”

Mitch Marsh believes a second-ball duck in Wellington could hardly be less representative of his form with the bat.

Feb 18, 2016, updated Feb 18, 2016
Mitch Marsh at training. Photo: Dave Hunt, AAP.

Mitch Marsh at training. Photo: Dave Hunt, AAP.

But Marsh knows how he will be judged by Australia selectors when it comes to a run drought at Test level.

“My record with the bat is not great over the last 12 months,” he said.

“But I’ve still got great confidence that I can turn it around and start scoring big runs for Australia.

“I know my game is good enough at this level and it’s just a matter of time before I get in and get a big one for the team.”

Marsh is averaging just 14.27 since he claimed Shane Watson’s place in the Test side during last year’s Ashes.

The 24-year-old has kept his spot in the XI because of some fantastic spells of medium-pace but acknowledges he needs to lift with the willow.

“You have to be performing and contributing in a big way to keep your spot,” he said.

“The frustrating part for me is at this level even if your team is doing well you’re judged on your numbers and I understand that… it’s been a little bit hard but that’s international cricket, that’s why it’s the pinnacle of our game.”

This summer, Marsh often suffered because of the side’s run gluttons at the top of the order.

More often than not Marsh was on a hiding to nothing, walking out to the middle when a declaration was imminent.

However, he fired with the bat in recent one-day action.

A maiden ODI century at the SCG came in January then an unbeaten knock of 69 guided Australia to victory in Wellington.

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“I carried that confidence over going into that last Test match and felt great going into it,” he said.

“I’ll continue to keep working hard.”

The upside is his form with the ball.

Some pundits have suggested Marsh could function as a frontline seamer, allowing Australia to play another batsman in the second Test against New Zealand that starts in Christchurch on Saturday.

Marsh is uncomfortable with such praise but takes pride in how he stepped up in the first Test after Peter Siddle trudged off the Basin Reserve because of back spasms.

“With Sidds going down the other day… I can cover and get those overs out when he’s not bowling,” he said.

“It plays an important role… I want to get better and there’s always something you can improve on. I’m always working with [bowling coach] Craig McDermott.”

-AAP

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