Mitchell Marsh joked about the pressure he felt in Dubai with various family members looking on as he made his Test debut in Dubai against Pakistan.

Marsh made 30 runs in the match and failed to take a wicket last week on debut, but the 23-year-old from Western Australia was Australia’s top scorer on Saturday in the second Test.

Maturity has come quickly.

The tourists were bowled out for 261 and Pakistan are 2-61 in their second innings, an overall lead of 370 with two days remaining.

Marsh stood tall as big names fell around him, hitting 13 fours and one six off 116 deliveries.

“I didn’t have about 25 of the Marsh clan in the stands watching me so that made me feel a bit better,” Marsh grinned on Saturday night.

“I certainly learnt a few lessons from Dubai, the first real time I have faced a spin attack like that with the added pressure of it being my first Test.”

Marsh looked crushed after he clipped a catch to mid-on from a full toss on the so-called devil’s number 87 at 9-261.

“It was very disappointing to get out the way I did,” he said.

I didn’t really think about it at all when I was batting (87).

“It was only after it (that I realised) but that is cricket.”

Marsh said he just tried to play his natural attacking game.

“It was a little bit tough, losing a few wickets around me,” said Marsh, who went to the crease at 5-100 and added 64 with skipper Michael Clarke (47).

“But I just tried to put it out of my head.”

Marsh says he has matured in the past 12 months.

“I probably got a little bit caught up when I came into the first-class scene of trying to play too cute and look like a real batsman, rather than just going out there, backing my own ability and taking the game on,” he said.

“Because that is when I play my best cricket.”

Marsh’s immediate Test future could be clouded by the return of Shane Watson in December against India in Australia, although Watson could possibly bat at No.3 with Marsh at No.6.

“Shane Watson is the premier allrounder in Australian cricket and I have the utmost respect for that,” Marsh said.

“He’s been a great help for me over the last few years.”

MITCHELL MARSH’S KEY STATS

* Age: 23

* Home state: Western Australia

* Bats: right-handed, middle-order

* Bowls: right-arm fast-medium

* Tests: 2

* Batting record: 117 runs at an average of 39 including a top of 87

* Bowling record: 0-95 off 36 overs

* First-class centuries: 2

NOTE: figures include first three days in the second Test v Pakistan.