Mitchell Marsh’s first-class batting average is under 30 but numbers can be deceiving, according to Australia’s batting coach Michael Di Venuto.
Marsh, who is pushing for a possible Test debut on Wednesday against Pakistan in Dubai, showed his hitting power with two half-centuries in the one-day series in Zimbabwe against South Africa and the hosts in August and September.
The big right-hander’s 89 off 83 balls against Zimbabwe and 86 not out off 51 deliveries including three successive sixes off South Africa’s Dale Steyn were examples of the type of destruction Australia are hoping Marsh can inflict upon Pakistan’s bowlers.
Following a hamstring strain on September 30, Marsh made a cautious comeback in the four-day game against Pakistan A in Sharjah.
The paceman didn’t bowl in Pakistan A’s first innings and took 0-18 off seven overs in the second innings, while notching scores of 0 and 35 in the game which ended on Saturday.
“I would have thought Mitchell Marsh would come in at six and keep Brad Haddin at seven but that’s up to the skipper Michael Clarke,” Di Venuto told AAP.
“Mitch is an outstanding young talent. I saw him score a double hundred a few months ago for Australia A in a four-day game.
“I think he’s pretty even with his bowling and batting.
“We saw that in one-day cricket in Zimbabwe with a couple of his innings over there.
“He’s a very talented batsman and he can certainly hold down the number six spot for us.”
Marsh’s first-class batting average is 28.51 and his pace bowling has yielded 56 wickets at 26.92.
“Stats can be a bit misleading. He started quite young in first-class cricket,” Di Venuto said.
“Sometimes it takes a little bit of time. He’s still only 22.
“I’m sure those numbers will improve.”
Australia’s players will spend time with their families on Sunday in Dubai before training on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the first Test.
MITCHELL MARSH’S CAREER AT A GLANCE
* Age: 22
* State team: Western Australia
* Bowls: right-arm fast-medium
* Bats: right-handed
* Test matches: 0
* First-class matches: 38
* First-class record: 1768 runs at 28.51 (2 hundreds) and 56 wickets at 26.92
* ODI matches: 9
* ODI record: 261 runs at 37.28 and 4 wickets at 39.00.
