Allrounder knows batting is under scrutiny with Moises Henriques looming in Test squad
Marsh welcomes new all-round challenge
Mitchell Marsh says he regards the presence of fellow pace-bowling allrounder Moises Henriques in the Test squad for the upcoming Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka as a challenge rather than a shot across his bow from national selectors.
Henriques, who played the last of his three Tests so far more than three years ago, was last week named in a 15-man squad for the three-match series in July and August.
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The 29-year-old was picked ahead of spin-bowling allrounder Glenn Maxwell, giving selectors two pace-bowling allrounders to choose from as they look to field a two-man spin attack of Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe in conditions that have historically taken turn.
A dual spin option is likely to put further bowling strain on the third seamer Marsh, the incumbent Test No.6 who's bowling has been a crucial asset for captain Steve Smith in Australia's rise back to the summit of the Test cricket rankings.
While Marsh has enjoyed an extended run of fitness over the past 12 months, a higher bowling workload in Sri Lanka would heighten the risk of him suffering the kind of soft tissue injury that plagued the start of his international career.
Thus the need for Henriques in the squad, a like-for-like inclusion that the younger player is treating as a further opportunity to develop into a genuine allrounder in Australia's Test side, a tag he admits he's yet to earn.
"I think in the shorter formats I have a lot of confidence in both facets of the game and I see myself as a genuine allrounder," Marsh said in New York ahead of the one-day international tri-series in the Caribbean, starting on Friday.
"But in Test cricket the proof is in the pudding; I haven't been able to score as many runs as I would have liked.
"So I can't classify myself as a genuine allrounder in the Test format, but I hoping in the next 12 months that'll change.
"It's always nice to have competition in the ranks and we have quite a few good allrounders at the moment. You always have to perform.
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"I think on a tour like Sri Lanka, the more allrounders the better because it gives you an opportunity to play more spinners if the wicket's going to be turning.
"Moises has worked extremely hard. He's been a little unlucky throughout his career with injury but I' m sure he's going to jump at the opportunity to be back on tour with Australia.
"I get along great with him. While he's the same sort of player to me, he also has a lot of experience so I'll be learning a lot off him.
"It's great to have him back in the squad and he deserves it."
Commenting on Henriques's surprise inclusion last week, selector Rod Marsh noted the New South Welshman's strong performances on the 2013 tour of India, where he scored two half-centuries in a forgettable series for the tourists.
And given to recent good form of Australia’s top five batsmen, it came as no surprise that Marsh indicated that the two allrounders were vying for just one spot in the XI.
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"Henriques comes into the squad to give the flexibility of an additional allrounder option, having already shown he plays and adapts well to spin-friendly conditions,” Marsh said.
"He has been working hard with his fitness and we believe he is in prime condition to serve us well should he be selected to play."
The younger Marsh, no relation to the head of selectors, spoke last week about his frustration at being unable to deliver with the bat in the longest format of the game, having averaged just 23 from 15 Tests since his debut against Pakistan in 2014.
But the tall right-armer has been a surprisingly prolific weapon with the ball since he took over the mantle of Australia's No.1 allrounder from Shane Watson during last year's Ashes series, taking 24 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 29, with 15 of his 24 wickets being top six batsmen.
The 24-year-old says a more diligent work ethic at training and away from the game has allowed him to stay relatively injury free over the past 12 months, while he's also credited former fast-bowling coach Craig McDermott for transforming him into a genuine fast-medium bowler, capable of bowling in excess of 140kph.
Having seen his hard work off the field pay immediate dividends, Marsh is sure to continue to apply himself on the training track.
And he says despite the absence of McDermott, who stepped down as bowling coach earlier this year, he is looking forward to working with his WA state bowling coach Adam Griffith (West Indies tour) and South African pace legend Allan Donald (Sri Lanka tour) in the upcoming series.
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"As a young kid I didn't value fitness training and getting my body in peak condition," he said.
"But I think in the past two years, I've made better choices off the field and I've seen the results.
"I've played a lot more cricket than I ever have. I got through a full season, which is longer than I ever had.
"Obviously you're always going to have a few niggles going as hard as we do but to get through unscathed was a great reward for all the hard work that I've done.
"And the other thing is when you start to feel part of the team you start to make better choices for your teammates as well so I'll continue to do that and hopefully I can stay on the park.
"(McDermott and I) will remain great friends. He’s obviously known my father for a long time and I know whenever I need him, he's only going to be a phone call away.
"But we're going to have great experience with our bowling coaching rankings with Adam Griffith for this tour and Allan Donald for the next one.
"So for me it's about learning as much as I can, trying to improve every day and going from there."