PERTH, AUSTRALIA // Shaun Marsh, the struggling Australia batsman, has conceded he is running out of chances at Test level.
Having been sidelined by his latest back problem, the left-hander was rushed back into the Australia side for the Test series against India on the back of just one Twenty20 innings.
He is yet to reward the faith of the selectors, with just 14 runs at an average of 3.50 batting at No 3 in a series the home side has otherwise dominated to lead 3-0.
Marsh has again received the backing of the selectors by being retained in the 12-man squad for the fourth Test in Adelaide, starting on Tuesday, but he has said the pressure to make a substantial score was reaching a critical mass.
"At the end of the day my job is to score runs and I haven't been doing that in the first three Test matches," he said.
"There's always pressure, that's part and parcel of playing international cricket, I've just got to try to turn it around.
"You don't get too many chances to play Test cricket, so I know my chances are running out."
In a bid to regain some form, Marsh has been released to play for his domestic Twenty20 side, the Perth Scorchers, today.
The 28 year old, who has played six Tests and scored 298 runs at 33.11, including a century on debut against Sri Lanka, conceded it was one of the most important matches of his career.
"I'm just looking forward to getting out there and spending a bit of time in the middle," he said.
"I've had some poor games lately in the Test arena, which has been disappointing, so to get out there and hopefully score a few runs to get the confidence back would be nice."
Marsh dismissed suggestions he had returned from injury too early and said he believed the batsman-friendly Adelaide Oval was the perfect venue to turn his form around.
"The back's fine now, the body's feeling great and it's time to score some runs," he said.
* Agence France-Presse