Mitchell Marsh says it would be special to play with brother Shaun

Mitchell Marsh says it would be special to play with brother Shaun: The budding Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh wants to get the opportunity to play with elder brother Shaun in an Ashes test. After picking up four wickets in Australia’s tour game against Derbyshire on Saturday, Marsh said that working with Craig McDermott has boosted his chances of forging a Test career and playing international cricket alongside older brother Shaun.

Asked if he had ever seen Shaun bat this well, Mitchell replied, “Probably not, to be honest. I don’t know what’s changed, but he’s just doing it consistently at the moment and it’s great to see him pushing for selection. I’m sure, if he gets a chance hopefully he’ll get a good run at it.”

Mitchell got an opportunity to revive his Test career when he was fielded for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s after Shane Watson was dropped following a poor display in Australia’s 169-run defeat to England in the Ashes opener at Cardiff. He then seized his chance to shine with 2 for 23, including the key wickets of Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes, in the first innings of the match Australia eventually won by a huge 405 runs to level the five-match series at 1-1.

“Craig McDermott and I sat down after the World Cup and changed a few things in my bowling,” explained Mitchell when asked about his increased pace and threat with the ball. “It’s nice to see them coming along now but I’ve got to keep working hard if I want to keep improving and be a genuine all-rounder. He (McDermott) has been awesome for me, just to learn off him.” Marsh added.

Mitchell insisted that his body wasn’t betraying him, especially now that he has realised that his role was to support the main pacers – Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

“My body’s feeling really good. Hopefully it can hold up for the remainder of the series,” he said. “I think I’ve always been an attacking bowler, although I haven’t always had the pace. But I think probably the one thing I have learnt is that it’s not really my role in the team when you’ve got guys like Mitchell Johnson, Starcy and Josh Hazlewood bowling at the other end.”

Should Rogers, who made a Test-best 173 in the first innings at Lord’s not recover in time from the balance problems that cut short his second innings, Shaun Marsh is set to take his place. The Marsh brothers, younger ones of former Australia opener Geoff Marsh, have appeared in a combined 19 Tests.