There's still an opportunity for me to have one more crack at Test cricket: Mitchell Marsh

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh says that he has an opportunity to have one more crack at Test cricket, but admits that the chances are bleak, given how Cameron Green has grabbed onto the all-rounder's position.

Marsh also accepts that he may have to play solely as a batter and knows that it would take an injury of some sort to the first XI that will most likely put him back on the team sheet. "I still see there's definitely an opportunity for me to have one more crack, probably more so as a batsman now," Marsh said on SEN ahead of the Pakistan tour.

"For me to get back in the actual Test team now, it's really only through injury or COVID at the moment with the Pakistan tour.

"But moving forward, whatever opportunities I get in red-ball cricket and get playing Shield cricket for WA, just making sure I continue to score runs and whatever format it is, be as consistent as I can.

"Guys like Usman Khawaja, even Moises Henriques – they're 34, 35, but they're still pushing for selection, and that's great motivation for guys like me. I'm only 30 years of age and there's been a lot of guys that have just started playing for Australia (at that age) and had great careers.

"So I'm certainly hopeful that I'll get one more opportunity at Test level.

"I've worked really hard on just preparing well and enjoying the game for what it is and that's really helped me over the last 12 months. So I'll continue to do that. And hopefully, the opportunity arises at some stage."

Marsh, who has cemented his place in the side in white-ball formats over the last 12 months or so, has been rested for the ongoing T20 International (T20I) series against Sri Lanka. He admits that it is a good opportunity for him to recharge ahead of the historic Pakistan tour.

"It's always weird when you speak about resting from the series (because) as a player you always want to be playing, but I think COVID changed that," Marsh said.

"I've just cemented my place in white-ball teams for Australia, so it did feel a little bit weird having a rest at the beginning (of this series) but now that I'm home and now the boys have won series 3-0 it's a lot better and I'm using my time wisely at home to refresh.

"Living in a bubble can be really tough at times, so it's been really nice to be home. Personally, it has been a long, six or seven months living in the COVID bubble and I've got another four or five months on the road now.

"So this little week and a half was seen as just a bit of a gap to refresh and spend some time at home see my family and refresh.

"I've been very grateful, it's been really nice and hopefully preparing at home this week and next will put me in good stead for Pakistan."

Marsh played last of his 32 Tests against England at The Oval in 2019. He has slammed 1,260 runs at 25.20 with the bat and has picked up 42 wickets at 38.64 with ball in hand.

The three-match Test series against Pakistan is scheduled to kick-start from March 4 in Rawalpindi.