Most immediately is the ODI series against India, a stepping stone to the World Cup later this year, but before that he hopes to find a place in Australia’s Test squad for the Ashes.
He still won’t be available to bowl in the three matches against India, instead eyeing a return with the ball during the IPL with Delhi Capitals.
“I feel I’ve really developed as a person and feel like every single year I’ve got better as a cricketer,” he told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the opening ODI in Mumbai. “I’m full of confidence at the moment that my best can match it with anyone. I’m hopeful to get another opportunity in red-ball cricket but if it doesn’t happen I’ll keep plugging away and be happy to represent Australia in whatever team I can.
“At 31 years of the age, we’ve seen a lot of guys who have hit their peak around that age. Hopefully that’s the case for me.”
He admitted to a hint of ‘what if’ when Green was absent for three Tests against South Africa and India with a broken finger but knew he’d had no choice but to get his ankle fixed.
“It’s natural to feel that way at times, but in the same sentence if I’d kept going with my ankle I probably wouldn’t have got through and it would have been more detrimental to the team,” he said. “I never want to put my own personal goals ahead of anything that comes with team.
“I’ve said that getting in the Ashes squad is a real goal of mine. I’m hopeful that’s the case, but I also understand that might not be. It was certainly part of the reason I got the surgery done.”
Marsh, who played a key role in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup victory after his promotion to No. 3, made the best of his enforced break and when he was able to train again worked extensively on his batting with coaches Scott Meuleman and Beau Casson.
“You never really know when you come back how it will pan out but was pretty confident in myself,” he said. “Generally speaking through my career I’ve been best when fresh. Getting a chance to have a break from the rollercoaster ride that international cricket is, I used the time as wisely as I possibly could.”
“The trajectory of his career is only going up,” Marsh said. “He’s got a level head on him, he loves learning. He’s got all the attributes to be a great cricketer and he’s sort of got through that period now of all the hype around him.
“Now we are starting to see him just perform. He’s gaining a lot of respect around world cricket, not just as a young player but as an established international cricketer. Now he has that belief in himself he will be able to keep pushing the boundaries. And they are big boundaries for him so anything is possible.”