Mitch Marsh and Mitchell Starc warm up before the start of play on day three. Credit:Getty Images Marsh also provides depth in terms of fast bowling, with Waugh almost lamenting that none of the top five batsmen could provide handy medium pace as a change bowler. "He is not cooked because we have actually picked this team for the first two Tests - he definitely has two Tests. As a selector, you pick these guys because you think they are the best players, you don't pick 'em because you think they are no good," Waugh said on Saturday. "Once they get out on the field, it is out of your control. Mitch is a great team man, he has great ability - he has just got to perform." In 18 Tests before the series opener against the Proteas, Marsh was averaging 24 with the bat, having passed 50 only twice, and had 27 wickets at 36.33 with the ball.

Crucial: Mitch Marsh. Credit:Getty Images Marsh had adopted a more aggressive manner with the bat during the winter tour of Sri Lanka although he was unable to rubber-stamp his spot with a breakthrough innings. Waugh said he needed to "free" himself up and play his natural game. But he still appears uncertain what tempo is required at certain points of the game. "I think he is actually a genuine allrounder. I think he is capable of getting a hundred. We haven't seen it yet but he is capable of getting five wickets. He is what I would call a genuine allrounder," Waugh said on Triple M. "On his day, he is sometimes better with the bat, other days he is better with the ball. He gives great balance to the team but, having said that, it doesn't matter who you are, you have got to perform.

"We all think Mitchell is a great talent and he is excellent for the team and he gives you that extra bowler if you happen to get an injury or one of the quick bowlers is not having a good day, you have that back up, because none of the top five batsman at the moment bowl any seam up. "You really do need a genuine allrounder there to level that up but he has got to start performing. I have got great faith in him but it's up to him now. He has just got to try and free himself. He looks a little bit tense with the bat. "He is a natural stroke player and I believe he plays an aggressive style. That's probably the best way for him to achieve some results, particularly with the bat." Vice-captain David Warner said Marsh needed to back himself. "Whether or not there's mixed messages there, he knows and understands his game. He's here at this level for a reason ... that's to score runs and wickets," he said.

"He has to work out what he needs to do to score runs and take wickets. I go back to a [one-day] game at Wellington where he won us a game - he played his strokes and played beautifully. I'm pretty sure him as an individual isn't clouded at all." If Marsh was axed for the third Test in Adelaide, the selectors could turn to NSW allrounder Moises Henriques, who struggled in his last Test, in Colombo, or they could turn to a specialist batsman to fill the No.6 spot. Marsh's troubles come at a time when those within the team - and retired greats - debate why the Australians have consistently had dramatic batting collapses in recent years. Loading After a superb start by David Warner and Shaun Marsh in the first innings in Perth, the hosts lost 10-86. This followed a tumble of 10-83 in their previous Test, against Sri Lanka in Colombo. There were more batting collapses on that tour, while the Australians were fired out for 60 at Trent Bridge on last year's losing Ashes tour.

Former Test captain Mark Taylor says there is an over-reliance on Warner and skipper Steve Smith to post big scores, while Test great Shane Warne says an inability to rotate the strike against spin bowling is leading to "panic".