Australian quicks help Mitchell Marsh prepare for South Africa

Mitchell Marsh, the Australian all-rounder, believes facing his side’s world-class quicks in the nets will help the Australian batsmen be ready for South Africa’s potent pace attack when the teams meet for a four-Test series starting 1 March.

The recent South Africa vs India Tests had two sets of fast bowlers steaming in, causing all kinds of problems for the batsmen and deciding the course of the games. The South African attack, even without Dale Steyn whose comeback was cut short by a heel injury, breathed fire, with the experienced Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada, and the young Lungi Ngidi the mainstays.

Now, with Australia themselves able to call upon the considerable skills of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, and the likes of Chadd Sayers, Jhye Richardson and Marsh to back them up, the Tests in South Africa could prove to be a keen contest.

“I feel lucky as a batsman to face a world-class attack every time I go into the nets so I use every net session as an opportunity to get better against express bowling,” said Marsh, looking forward to the challenge of the upcoming series.

“As a cricketer, you always want to challenge yourself against the best. These guys (South Africa) probably have one of the best attacks in the world so I’m extremely excited about it.”

Marsh, who underwent surgery to treat a shoulder injury about a year ago, faced months on the sidelines before making a triumphant comeback to the playing XI with two centuries against England in the Ashes. And having come into the South Africa tour with a four-wicket haul for Western Australia in a first-class game, he is carrying confidence in his bowling as well.

“I feel like the ball’s been coming out really well the last couple of weeks,” he said. “Obviously it took a fair bit of time to get back, took me a long time to find my rhythm, which sort of happens when you go nine months without bowling.

“But I’m really pleased with how it’s progressed in the last six weeks and hopefully I’ll be able to contribute with a few wickets this series.”

He’d put in the hard work to get over a “topsy-turvy” period, he said, but acknowledged he will have to pace himself with shorter spells. “I gave myself six overs at the WACA the other week and felt really good. That’s probably my limit,” he said.

The first Test begins in Durban, before the action moves to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg.