Australian opener Shaun Marsh believes a more relaxed approach to his batting has contributed to his big totals in the first two One Day International clashes with South Africa this summer.
After impressing with the bat in the Indian Premier League and as Australia's opener in the ODI's against the West Indies last year, Marsh has endured a tough summer with Western Australia as the runs dried up almost completely.
The 25-year-old admitted he'd been mentally distracted since his return from India, where he served as a replacement for the injured Phil Jaques without getting a Test to his name.
But Marsh said a combination of solid training and a few chats with WA coach Tom Moody and his father, former Australian opener Geoff Marsh, helped get the runs flowing again.
"Test crickets still the pinnacle for me and that's what I want to do, I want to wear the baggy green" Marsh said on Wednesday, ahead of his departure to Sydney to join the Australian team for Friday's third ODI clash with the Proteas.
"(But) I probably thought about it too much when I got back from India from the Test series over there and it affected my game mentally."
"I've learnt a lot from it and hopefully I can learn from my mistakes and just concentrate on playing good cricket and making runs."
"I've done really well over the last 12 months so I just needed to come into my head for I knew I was doing the right things and I knew the runs were going to come eventually."
And come they did, with Marsh belting 79 from 97 balls in the first ODI against South Africa at the MCG, following it up with 78 from 102 in last Sunday's five-run win over the Proteas in Hobart.
Marsh said getting the close win over the tourists was vital to Australia's chances of taking out the five-match Commonwealth Bank series.
"We didn't want to go 2-0 down in a best of five series," he said.
"It was a fantastic win and it's given the guys a lot of confidence moving into Sydney."
"It'd (also) be nice to push on and get that three figures that I dearly want on Friday and hopefully we can get another win on the board."