'Maturity' behind Marsh's rise

Mitch Marsh is "just one Test innings away" from cementing himself as Australia's No.1 allrounder in all formats, according to his elated brother, Shaun.

The younger Marsh brother impressed with bat and ball in Australia's Caribbean ODI tri-series triumph – a match-winning innings in a crucial must-win game helped Australia secure their spot in the final, while a beautiful spell of one-day bowling helped turn the decider Australia's way.

Shaun was at home in Western Australia where he became a father for the first time. Up early with his new son, young Austin Ross was indoctrinated early into the ways of the Australian cricket team with the exploits of Uncle Mitch and his teammates on the television.

It's not surprising then, the word Shaun uses to describe his brother's growing stature is "maturity".

"He's going really well, he's learning every game he's playing and maturing into the cricketer we all know Mitch can be," Shaun told cricket.com.au from Brisbane.

"It's really great to see, he finished off that tournament really well.

"That innings he played to get them over the line showed that maturity," Shaun says of Mitch's unbeaten 79 from 85 balls that helped Australia to a six-wicket win in a must-win match against the West Indies that secured their spot in the final.

"He's still pretty young, Mitch, he's only 24. To have that in him to guide his country into a final, in a big game like that, against quality opposition, was a real stepping stone for him.

"Hopefully he can take that batting form into the Test arena now. I know he's is just one Test innings away to get that going for him."

Marsh's bowling has been impressive for some time, and it is his improvements in his batting that have most observers salivating at his potential.

Chief among them was the brothers' state coach and Australia's stand-in head coach for the Caribbean tour, Justin Langer. The former Aussie opener said Mitch's batting had so much upside potential, he could conceivably bat No.4 for Australia in all three formats of the game.

Shaun knows his brother's game well enough that he's inclined to agree.

"I've got no doubt in Mitch's ability that he could get to that at some stage," Shaun says.

"I'm sure Mitch knows himself he's got a bit of work to do. I know he's working really hard and if he keeps doing that I've got no doubt he can get to that position.

"He's a different player to me, I'm really happy he's going well.

"We really want each other to go well and hopefully there's a few more games we can play for Australia together in the team."