Mitchell Marsh has made a huge step in his Test career but needs to back it up

DARREN Lehmann says it’s too soon to declare Mitchell Marsh Australia’s all-round messiah, despite his breakout performance at the WACA.

Australia's Mitchell Marsh prepares to bowl to England during the fourth day of their Ashes cricket test match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

DARREN Lehmann says it’s too soon to declare Mitchell Marsh Australia’s all-round messiah, despite his breakout performance at the WACA.

The Australian coach described Marsh’s scintillating 181 as “emotional” and senses a more relaxed approach to Test cricket might have set the 26-year-old on the right path after a rocky first stint in Test cricket.

Lehmann loves the balance the all-rounder provides in his top six, and Marsh will be given every chance to make the most elusive position in Australian cricket his own.

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However, Lehmann made it clear that one score doesn’t make a summer and has intimated that bigger challenges lay ahead for Marsh — perhaps starting with Australia’s crunch tour of South Africa in March.

Darren Lehmann says Mitchell Marsh needs to work on his bowling.

Marsh showed an improvement with his batting temperament at the crease in Perth, but Lehmann says the big West Australian will continue to be a work in progress.

“The challenge for him is to back that up again to be perfectly honest,” said Lehmann.

“One innings doesn’t make a cricket career.

“For him, he’s got to back that up next game and do the right thing and continue to make runs.

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“I thought his bowling was a little bit disappointing, which he spoke about with me the other day.

“He’s got to get his bowling right, his fielding right and his batting and if it all comes together that’s fantastic.”

Mitchell Marsh on his way to his first Test century.

Lehmann said Marsh had shown in his return from eight months on the sidelines with injury exactly why all-rounders are so sought after in Australian cricket.

“You have all-rounders in any team if you can,” he said.

“Mitchell went back to refine his game a little bit, worked with some different people and just looked like he enjoyed himself out there and that’s the key to those sorts of guys.

“It was obviously really hard on Pete (Handscomb) missing out in this game, but the way Mitchell played was exceptional and really drove us to that total.

“It’s quite emotional when you see Swamp (Geoff Marsh) and Shaun (Marsh). It’s been an unbelievable two weeks for the Marsh family.”

Mitchell Marsh celebrates winning the Ashes with Pat Cummins.

Lehmann paid tribute to his fellow selectors Trevor Hohns, Greg Chappell and Mark Waugh for picking on instincts and coming up with four clutch calls on Cameron Bancroft, Tim Paine and the Marsh brothers.

With so many positions up for grabs coming into the summer, Lehmann said to lead 3-0 after getting team balance right was a satisfying feeling.

“There is (a level of satisfaction) I suppose but full credit to Trevor and Mark and Greg for that.

“It’s a tough, thankless job. It’s just pleasing those guys get the credit where it’s due.

“The guys who were picked were fantastic. You don’t know how it’s going to go when you first start and you cop a lot from people and the media.

“That’s the way it’s.

“We were just going with gut feel to be perfectly honest and I’m really pleased for the players that they turned up and played really well.

“I was impressed with each one of those selections and the way they turned up in the series so far.”

Originally published as Mitchell Marsh has made a huge step in his Test career but needs to back it up