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Marsh impresses with fighting knock

Hard-hitting allrounder revealed a different side in match-winning partnership with Wade

Mitchell Marsh burst onto the international scene as an explosive hard-hitting allrounder, but on Thursday we saw a different side of the developing Western Australian which is more impressive than his vast ability to clear the boundary.

Marsh walked to the crease in the first one-day international against England with his side reeling after losing 4-29 and wobbling at 6-193 at the end of the 37th over.

It was a tricky situation for Marsh and partner Matthew Wade, who was rattled having just run-out Shane Watson, knowing they needed to consolidate while also attack as the balls remaining were quickly disappearing like the setting Southampton sun.

Quick single: Wade sparks first-up win for Aussies

As it turns out, attack was the best form of defence, and as Wade refocused and hit top gear to smash 71 from 50 balls, his younger partner battled to find the fence but kept his head to rotate the strike and frustrate the hosts.

The pair combined for a match-winning 112-run partnership, the highest seventh-wicket stand for Australia against England in 50-over cricket, with Marsh capping off the brilliant recovery with his sole six of the innings from the penultimate delivery to end his stay unbeaten on 40 and push the tourists beyond 300.

"When you’re in those positions I was just really focused on getting out of that rut that we were in and getting a few at the end," Marsh said.

"We knew we didn’t have as many wickets as we would have liked at the end so it was about taking it as deep as possible.

"Wadey batted beautifully. My role as the aggressor today, although I was trying, didn’t really come off."

Watch: Australia take 1-0 lead (restrictions apply)

Despite posting centuries in both of Australia’s four-day tour matches in the lead up to the Ashes, Marsh failed to replicate that form in the Test arena.

In five innings across three Tests, the 23-year-old managed 48 runs at 12 and was undone, like most of Australia’s top-order batsmen, but the English movement through the air and off the seam.

Quick single: Five talking points from the first ODI

Marsh describes his first Ashes tour as an "eye-opener" but say his mission now is to look forward and win the five-match ODI series, and it could not have started any better.

"I would have liked to score a few more runs in the Ashes when I had the opportunity," Marsh said.

"I’ve set myself a goal this one-day tour to do as much as I can for the team and hopefully score a few more runs.

"Coming in down the order my role is going to be coming in at the end and hopefully I can have a few more partnerships like I did today with Wadey."

Watch: Wade and Marsh's fighting partnership (restrictions apply)

While Marsh searches for the form that took down Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel 12 months ago in Harare, he says cashing in when he’s made a start has been the difference this tour.

Quick single: England a 'long way' off Australia: Morgan

But Marsh isn’t concerned with personal performance. He’s only concern is doing whatever he can to help Australia leave England’s shores on a winning note.

"For me, in a one-day series like this it's not about how many runs I score or how many wickets I take,” Marsh said.

"I just want to do anything for the team to win, and if that means I get five off 10 balls at the end or 40 not out in a hundred-run partnership with Matthew Wade, then I'm happy.

"I'm not too worried about numbers or making big runs. I just want this team to win. "