After amassing a marathon knock of 162 runs against Pakistan A in the practice game before the upcoming Test series, Mitchell Marsh has said that while it's tough batting out there in the energy-sapping conditions of UAE, patience to try and be there for long periods of time will be the key. 

Marsh, who has made genuine strides as a batsman in the last one year, wants the ability to dig deep into the resolves of concentration to become his first instinct and says, “If it took me the whole day to get my hundred, so be it.”

“The conditions dictate that, it's a pretty hard wicket to score in front of the wicket on so you just had to be really patient," Marsh was quoted saying after his innings at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai, “My game plan today was to be really patient and play every ball on its merits and if it took me the whole day to get my hundred, so be it. It was really nice to spend that time in the middle.”

Stressing on what he did right throughout his long stay in the heat, Marsh further said, “I don't think I flicked a switch at any point, I just continued to work on my game and continued to improve, There are certain elements of my game that have got better and it's nice to put them in place in the middle." adding, “I've worked hard on having softer hands when playing spin in these conditions … playing the ball later and being really strong in my defense.”

Marsh was recently appointed the joint vice-captain of the Test side and he is now looking forward to his first match in that position but he emphasized that he will always be a leader to his responsibility in the side. 

“When I was initially told the news, I was really stoked, It’s a real achievement for me (to be) a leader in this team." he said , "(But) I’ve said a few times now that I don’t need a ‘VC’ next to my name to be a leader. I’m excited about what we can all achieve as a young group," and signed off. 

(Inputs from ICC)