Shaun Marsh eager to make up for lost time
Shaun Marsh is in red-hot form as he prepares to become the mainstay of Western Australia's batting line-up this season.
Marsh was 156 yesterday when he retired after more than seven hours at the crease for the WA second XI against Victoria's second XI at Stevens Reserve in Fremantle.
Revealing that he had made a full recovery from the elbow surgery that will limit his throwing for the next few weeks, Marsh has set his sights on having a significant impact in the Sheffield Shield competition.
"My fitness is fine and I have been able to get out in the past couple of weeks to play some competitive cricket," Marsh said.
"I am really looking forward to Friday and getting back out there with the boys.
"They are playing some really good cricket and I am looking forward to being part of it again.
"My elbow is fine but I won't be throwing for a while and will be in the slips for most of the game.
"I will be able to chase the ball but someone will have to come with me."
The 31-year-old, who last week watched his brother Mitch become the third member of the family to play Test cricket following his own nine matches and their father Geoff's 50-game career, is eager to make up for lost time.
The elbow injury prevented him taking part in Perth's solid Champions League campaign in India in September and WA's successful Matador Cup tournament.
Marsh did not play in WA's one-day wins in 1999-2000 and 2003-04 but was a member of the losing grand final team in 2001-02.
He said he was inspired by the success of his teammates and eager to help them add a shield win to this year's Big Bash and one-day victories.
"Our confidence is sky high and our young kids are getting stronger with every game," he said. "And the senior players are going really well, so it is a great combination.
"We are full of confidence and want to win."
He will have a significant load against Tasmania in the season opener tomorrow at the WACA Ground with the WA selectors naming just six batsmen - including wicket-keeper Sam Whiteman - and a five-man pace battery.
There were few obvious batting choices when the selectors chose their team, with Ashton Turner released to play in a warm-up match against South Africa next week and none of the other candidates making a strong case for selection.
·Nathan Coulter-Nile will strive for extra speed this season as he attempts to use the one-dayers against South Africa to push his cause to play Test cricket.
The versatile speedster will join his Warriors teammate Mitchell Johnson in a pace shoot-out against the Proteas in two 50-over matches at the WACA Ground this month.
Coulter-Nile, who made a strong return to action in the Champion's League tournament in India and last weekend helped WA secure their first one-day title in a decade, vowed to get quicker this summer.
He knows that Australian coach Darren Lehmann only wants pacemen capable of operating at 140km/h and is eager to use a regular place in the one-day team as a springboard to Test honours.
"Boof always says he loves blokes who bowl pace," Coulter-Nile said.
"I am definitely trying to get quicker every year. But there is no point bowling quick if you can't control it, so I am trying to find the balance."
The 27-year-old was named in a 13-man squad alongside Johnson and fellow quicks Josh Hazlewood and Kane Richardson, while veteran Shane Watson and Mitch Marsh will offer seam-bowling options.
The team will take on South Africa twice in Perth before another three matches in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney as both countries prepare for next year's World Cup campaign.
Australian squad: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson.
WA: Marcus Harris, Cam Bancroft, Michael Klinger, Adam Voges (capt), Shaun Marsh, Sam Whiteman, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Rimmington, Jason Behrendorff, Michael Hogan, Simon Mackin (12th to be named).
Tasmania: Ed Cowan, Dominic Michael, Jon Wells, George Bailey (capt), Beau Webster, Jordan Silk, Tim Paine, Evan Gulbis, Xavier Doherty, Andrew Fekete, Hamish Kingston, Sam Rainbird, Timm van der Gugten (12th to be named).
