Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh says Test runs, not Indian Premier League riches, are the currency he desires.
The West Australian opted to bypass the lucrative Twenty20 tournament for a second straight year to focus on preparing his body and game for the Test tours of the Caribbean and England.
Marsh played one IPL season for the Deccan Chargers in 2010 before being a member of the Pune Warriors squad from 2011 to 2013.
His decision to skip this year's tournament probably cost Marsh hundreds of thousands of dollars but, after a breakthrough summer which ended with a World Cup winner's medal, it's a call the 23-year-old is comfortable with.
"Financially, Michael Clarke's always said to me if you make enough Test hundreds, the money will take care of itself," Marsh said.
"Hopefully that's the plan and I'll see how I go."
While Test squad teammates David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson, Steven Smith and Mitchell Johnson were all toiling away in the IPL in India, Marsh was in Brisbane preparing himself for the two-Test tour against the West Indies and the subsequent Ashes campaign.
He says taking time out to strengthen his body and work on some technical issues justified his decision to skip the IPL.
"Where my body's at, where my game's at, it was just really important for me to have a break," said Marsh, who lost his Test spot in the summer due to a hamstring strain.
"I'm all about trying to nail down my No.6 spot and I just thought not going to the IPL would give me the best chance to do that.
"Even if it doesn't come off I know that I've given it a good crack."
Share
