MITCH IS LOVING PITCHES

MITCH Marsh has been given the all-clear to relaunch his career as a genuine all-rounder this summer, saying he is determined to bowl as fast as ever when he returns from a shoulder reconstruction.

In his first interview since surgery in March, the powerful West Australian detailed his devastation at being forced home during the epic Test series in India and said he was aiming to be available from the start of this domestic summer as a batsman.

Marsh has begun batting in the nets and is on track to resume gentle bowling in the next fortnight. He will aim to increase his bowling load throughout the summer.

The 25-year-old received a positive report at a check-up on his repaired shoulder on Friday.

“I’ve got absolutely no doubts that I’ll be able to get back. It may take a bit of time ... to get back to being a fullyfledged all-rounder, but I won’t know that until the time and I’m hoping that by the start of the Shield season I’ll be bowling with no restrictions,” Marsh said.

“When I talk to physios and surgeons, they’re very positive about that as well.

“I certainly don’t want to let this injury curb the way I bowl. One of my goals as soon as I had the surgery was to get back to bowling 140km/h. So that’s what I’m striving for and that’s a realistic goal.”

Marsh acknowledged his most likely ticket back into the Test team was as an all-rounder. He did not rule out playing some part in this summer’s Ashes series, which starts at the Gabba on November 23, but said it was not his focus.

“There’s three Shield games before that first Ashes Test, but to be brutally honest I’m not really sure where I’m going to be at then,” he said.

“At this stage it’s a week-byweek thing and if I get up for that first Shield game as an allrounder, then so be it.

“For me the equation’s simple. If I can get back as an allrounder and play for WA, if I make enough runs, then I know I’ll get looked at.”