Marsh open to return to the top

Despite finally finding a home in Australia's Test team as a middle-order batsman, veteran Shaun Marsh says he would be comfortable returning to the top of the order if required this year.

Australia's next Test assignment is not until late September when they face Pakistan in the UAE, and new coach Justin Langer has at least three top-order vacancies to fill following the ball-tampering suspensions of David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft.

Both opening spots are up for grabs after Warner and Bancroft opened together in eight consecutive Tests before they were banned by Cricket Australia.

Sheffield Shield-winning Queensland duo Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns were parachuted in for the Johannesburg Test but the make-up of the next Test XI will remain a mystery until at least the Australia A tour of India in August.

The 'A' squad features four batsmen from that Joburg Test; Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb and allrounder Mitchell Marsh, who will captain the side.

Renshaw would appear to be well placed to lock down one opener's spot in the Test side and could solidify his position if he continues to impress with Somerset in England's County Championship and on the 'A' tour.

But Burns was overlooked for the 'A' squad and Marsh, a proven performer in subcontinental conditions who opens at domestic level, could be a prime candidate to move up the order in the UAE.

"I've been pretty flexible over the years, I've scored runs at the top of the order, I've scored runs in the middle order," Marsh told cricket.com.au in London, where he's with Australia's ODI squad.

"It's a fair way away. I just want to put my focus and energy on the next few months for Australia and Glamorgan.

"If the captain did want (me to open), then I'd feel comfortable but we'll see what happens."

Marsh averages 42 from nine Test innings as an opener, including a century in Colombo in 2016, and has been used in that position by Langer in Shield cricket.

But it's been as a No.5 and No.6 that Marsh has enjoyed his most consistent Test run to date, scoring two centuries and averaging 42 as he played nine consecutive matches over the 2017-18 season.

Marsh's strong record in Asia and his season-long deal to play for Glamorgan meant he was not considered for the 'A' squad, essentially meaning he is one of the few batsmen already pencilled on the Test squad team sheet for the UAE tour.

The Western Australian turns 35 next month and refuses to look as far ahead as next winter's World Cup and Ashes tour, but says his batting in English conditions has improved while at Glamorgan, where he scored a century in the season opener.

"I had a bit of a taste of county cricket last year (with Yorkshire) and when the opportunity came up again to come over here in the winter I jumped at it," he said.

"There's been some difficult conditions to play in and the Dukes ball has been nipping around a bit but I've enjoyed the challenge.

"I've have had to play a little bit differently, but that's part and parcel of playing in different countries.

"No doubt (it's helped improve my batting). It's completely different to what we get back home. Wickets here are little bit more softer and the Dukes certainly swings around a fair bit.

"Once this ODI series finishes I go back to Glamorgan for some T20 cricket and to finish off the County Championship season with them."