All-rounder Mitchell Marsh is prepared to risk embarrassment to adopt a see ball, hit ball mantra in a bid to end the batting woes that cost him his place in Australia's Test side.
After speaking with coach Darren Lehmann, Marsh believes his best chance of succeeding as a batsman in the longer forms is to play his shots rather than occupy the crease. Selector Mark Waugh is one who would prefer to see Marsh go down swinging. If the risky strategy works then the Marsh of the future will resemble more the free-wheeling hitter who creamed New Zealand in Canberra, than the player of the past two years who batted for time in vain to make scratchy 20s and 30s.
If that's the way Marsh has to play to flourish at Test level then some will see it as a concession his technique and temperament is not suited to the format, but after his troubles with the bat anything is worth a try.
Marsh has passed 50 only twice in 31 Test innings for an average of 23, which is handy for a No.8, but not a player in the top six. His poor run also extends to Shield cricket where scores of 12, zero, 14 and zero this summer have meant there will be no recall anytime soon.
Marsh knows this but is drawing encouragement from his whirlwind 76 off 40 balls in Australia's blitz of the Black Caps on Tuesday. The circumstances of his knock could not have been any more different to recent series against Sri Lanka and South Africa; the track was flat, big hits were needed and the pressure was well and truly off.
His blazing innings may be the blueprint for his future but while dashers like Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and David Warner carved success on the Test scene playing their shots, their defence was also much sounder than Marsh's.
"I've had a few conversations with Boof [Lehmann], especially last night, I think in red ball cricket the last couple of years I probably haven't played my natural game," Marsh said.
"I've tried to be a batsman that bats time but for me I'm a hitter of the cricket ball and for the next few months I think I'm going to bat like that and really back myself. I might get out a few ugly ways at times, but I feel it will give me the best chance to score runs and score big runs.
"When you're not scoring runs you tend to try plenty of different things in the nets to make something work. The last week or two I've simplified it to watching the ball as hard as I can and then letting my natural ability take over. I felt much better once I've done that and really just clearing my head."
A Test recall is not imminent but Marsh is adamant if he is to add to his 19 caps, it will be as a batting all-rounder, even if his first-class numbers suggest his stronger suit is currently with the ball.
"That depends who you ask, some people think I'm nothing," Marsh said. "If I want to play Test match cricket I have to bat in the top six so I want to continue to be a batting all-rounder. My bowling has improved over the last 12 months so hopefully both facets of my game will keep improving and I'll be able to bat at No.6 for Australia.
"You've always got to be ready but I don't think given the opportunities I've had in the past month - I haven't scored any runs so I don't think they'll be looking at me. At the same time the players who have come in have played only one Test and they started beautifully. I think they deserve a crack."
