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Mitch Marsh has opened up about his “shattering” Test series in the UAE and his burning desire to play in next year’s World Cup after being dumped from the ODI squad to face South Africa next month.
Marsh was a surprise omission from the 14-man squad named to face the Proteas in three games starting in Perth on November 4.
Chief selector Trevor Hohns said the decision had been made to manage the allrounder, adding that he could be back in the ODI selection mix later in the summer.
Marsh however conceded he had been squeezed out, adding that selectors also wanted him to spend time at the crease in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the first Test against India.
“I was very disappointed,” Marsh told AAP. “I think over the last three or four years, (50-over cricket has) been my best format. But right now I’m not in our best XI.
“There’s no doubt I want to be in that World Cup team. I want to be a leader in the one-day team as well.
“Right now I’ve got to get myself as fit as I can so I can play all three formats and be performing in all three formats for Australia.
“This is a minor setback but I still think that I can be in our best side throughout this summer.”
Australia are set to also play three ODIs against India in January.
Marsh appeared to have cemented his spot in the Test side with a stellar Ashes series but the joint vice-captain had a torrid time in the UAE this month, scoring 30 runs from four innings as Australia lost the series 1-0 to Pakistan.
“It was shattering,” said Marsh, who captained Australia A in India in the lead-up to the series. “You work so hard throughout the winter and you work on so many things to try and be a better cricketer and become better in these conditions. And it didn’t come off for me this series.
“I learnt a lot again. For me it’s just about taking the opportunity. I know exactly what I have to do to play in the Test team and that’s dominate Shield cricket and make sure they can’t not pick me.”
Marsh could play up to three Shield rounds before the first Test against India in Adelaide starting December 6 and is keen to ramp up his pace-bowling workload after undergoing ankle surgery earlier this year.
“I’ll be playing every single one of them as an allrounder,” the West Australia captain said of the Shield matches.
“I want to be bowling as much as I possibly can to add another string to my bow.
“But ultimately my only currency is runs. I can do everything right but if I’m not scoring runs, it means nothing.”
Australia v Proteas, Gillette ODI series, November 2018
First ODI: Perth Stadium, November 4
Second ODI: Adelaide Oval, November 9
Third ODI: Blundstone Arena, Hobart, November 11
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn.
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