Shaun Marsh is relishing the opportunity of challenging himself against South Africa's "fantastic bowlers" during the upcoming tour.
Batsman hoping to cement Test place against Proteas
Australia batsman Shaun Marsh is relishing the opportunity of challenging himself against South Africa's "fantastic bowlers" during the upcoming tour.
The left-hander from Western Australia is gradually establishing himself in all formats of the international game and will face his toughest test to-date against the Proteas, who boast arguably the best seam bowling attack in world cricket.
Marsh played in the final two Test matches of the recent tour of Sri Lanka, making a century on debut and following it up with 81 in the final match.
Those contributions saw him replace Ricky Ponting as Australia's No.3 batsman and Marsh is now hoping to cement his place in the Test team for many years to come.
Opportunity
"You always want to play Test cricket for Australia and I guess to get that opportunity and to do well, I've got a great opportunity now to really cement myself in the Test team," Marsh said.
"I'm looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in South Africa. It's going to be a tough series over there.
"They've got some fantastic bowlers so it's really going to test myself and I'm looking forward to that.
"I guess coming home was a good way to have a good think about what happened over there (in Sri Lanka) and get it out of my body and system and prepare myself for South Africa."
Marsh has been named in the one-day and Twenty20 squads for the trip to South Africa and will be joined by younger brother Mitch in the team for the shortest form.
And Shaun is confident his younger sibling will hold his own and potentially force his way into contention for the one-day and Test teams in the near future.
"He certainly deserves his opportunity. He performed very well on the Australia A tour to South Africa earlier this year and hopefully we can get a game together and do well," he said.
"He's certainly capable of that (filling the all-rounder role for Australia), but it's up to him now on how hard he works and how he takes his opportunity. But I'm backing him to do that and I'm certainly going to be there for support."
Amazing
Mitch, predominantly known as a batting all-rounder, has played only 11 Sheffield Shield matches, where he has averaged just 21 with the bat.
And, after making only three appearances in the Australian Twenty20 competition, the 19-year-old admitted his call-up to face the Proteas certainly came as a shock.
"It's certainly come as a surprise early on but just looking forward to the opportunity," Mitch said.
"If I can get a game it would be amazing to play with him (Shaun)."
