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Marsh to step back from one-day cricket in 22nd season

Western Australia's all-time leading 50-over run-scorer to focus on red-ball cricket this summer to allow the state to blood young talent ahead of him

Shaun Marsh, Western Australia's all-time leading 50-over run-scorer, has flagged a step away from the format this season as WA looks to blood young talent ahead of him.

The veteran batter, who played in both WA's Marsh One-Day Cup and drought-breaking Sheffield Shield victories last season, leads Justin Langer and coach Adam Voges as the state's top scorer in List A cricket with 3672 runs at 44.78.

It was announced last month the 38-year-old would play on into a 22nd season with Marsh resisting the urge to retire on a high after leading Western Australia to their first Shield title in 23 years.

"There were a few days there where I thought of finishing up on a high note, but I wasn't quite ready," Marsh told reporters at the WACA.

"I still love playing the game, I still love training and I still think I've got an important role to play.

"I still want to try and get better at my age so that really excites me and we've got some fantastic young kids here as well and I love being part of their development and growth."

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But the eighth leading batter of all-time in Australian domestic one-day cricket revealed he had spoken with Voges about just playing red-ball cricket for WA this summer.

While he hasn't officially retired from the 50-over format and will still play if needed, along with turning out for the Melbourne Renegades in the KFC BBL, Marsh said he was really comfortable with the decision to take a step back.

"They've been in the system for a few years now and they're continuing to grow and get better, so there's going to be opportunities and hopefully me being around for another 12 months can help the to develop, learn and get better," Marsh said.

One of those young talents is allrounder Aaron Hardie who has just signed for a stint with English county Surrey for the rest of the T20 Blast season.

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Hardie, who guided WA to the Marsh Sheffield Shield title in April with an unbeaten 174 and three wickets in the final, will be available for Friday's T20 match against Kent and their County Championship Division One fixture against Yorkshire beginning on July 11.

The 23-year-old finished the recent Australia A tour of Sri Lanka with 226 runs at 75 as well as picking up five wickets in two four-day games and two 50-over matches.

Western Australia's reigning men's player of the season, Hilton Cartwright, has also signed a one-month deal with Derbyshire as cover while Shan Masood is away on international duty with Pakistan.

Hardie delivers career-best 174* in Shield final

The 30-year-old joins NSW allrounder Hayden Kerr at Derby and will be available for the rest of the T20 competition, as well as up to three County Championship matches in July.

"(Hardie) was exceptional last year and the way he capped off the season in that Shield final we saw the amount of talent that he has with both bat and ball," Marsh said.

"He's continuing to grow and get better, and he's fully deserved his opportunities with Australia A.

"We're blessed with the amount of allrounders that we've got in our squad now with Mitch Marsh, Stoin (Marcus Stoinis), Hards (Hardie) and Greeny (Cameron Green), it's exciting to have an abundance of allrounders to call upon."