Mitchell Marsh has revealed he believes he can play more Test cricket for Australia as a batsman only.
Conceding he is almost no chance of being any competition to Cameron Green, who had a breakout summer as Australia's all-rounder at number six with both bat and ball, Marsh will attempt to revitalise his role in the team as that of a specialist batsman.
Marsh has been included in Australia's team to tour Pakistan during March for three Tests, with the 30-year-old having played 32 Tests sporadically since his debut in 2014.
He is a current member of both white ball teams, but hasn't played a Test since 2019.
Speaking on SEN Radio, Marsh said he probably needs Green to fall off the face of the Earth to be considered for the all-rounder spot, but hasn't given up home of playing for Australia.
“I probably need Cameron Green to fall off the face of the earth,” Marsh laughed on SEN WA.
“He is an outstanding young player and an outstanding young man who I’ll do everything in my power to help become a great Australian all-rounder.
“I still see there’s definitely an opportunity for me to have one more crack, probably more so as a batsman now,” he continued.
“For me to get back in the actual Test team, it’s really only through injury or COVID at the moment with the Pakistan tour.
“Moving forward, it’s just whatever opportunity I get in red-ball cricket, playing Shield cricket for WA, just making sure I continue to score runs, whatever format it is, be as consistent as I can.
“Guys like Usman Khawaja, even Moises Henriques, they’re 34, 35-years-old but they’re still pushing for selection.
“That’s great motivation for guys like me, I’m only 30 years of age and there’s been a lot of guys who have only just started playing for Australian then and gone on to have great careers.
“I’m certainly hopeful that I’ll get one more opportunity at Test level, I’ve worked really hard on just preparing well and enjoying the game for what it is has really helped me over the past 12 months
“So I’ll just keep doing that and hopefully the opportunity arises at some stage.”
Australia's tour of Pakistan kicks off with the first Test on Friday, March 4.
