Lehmann gives Mitchell Marsh licence to attack

Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has hinted at a difference of opinion with his possible successor Justin Langer over the future of Mitchell Marsh, whose recent struggles in the Test team have been attributed to a lack of mental clarity over his best means of success.

Marsh made a halting start against New Zealand in Canberra on Tuesday before freeing his arms to devastating effect, and Lehmann said this was the way he wanted to see the allrounder bat in the future – as a destructive middle-order player capable of changing the momentum of a game.

However he also indicated that there had been plenty of people in Marsh’s ear in recent times with differing views as to how he should bat, and pointed towards the Perth Scorchers and Western Australia state team – both coached by Langer – as places where that may have emanated from.

“It’s good to see him make some runs,” Lehmann said of Marsh. “He struggled the first 13-14 balls and then he got one away and away he went. I think he said yesterday he’s got to play with a bit more freedom, and he certainly is a highly talented young player, and he’s got to find his way.

“You’ve got so many coaches and different views – a Scorchers view, a WACA view, Australia view – and different coaches around the place. For him he’s got to work out what works for him, and my personal opinion is when he’s playing shots he’s a lot more dangerous.”

Langer, who coached the Australian ODI team to a victorious triangular series in the Caribbean earlier this year and is widely thought to be in line to succeed Lehmann in the future, has made a point of encouraging Marsh to be used up the batting order. He also spoke publicly about his belief that Marsh had the potential to be a top-four batsman in all formats – a role that would entail a more …

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