Marsh says sacrifices are necessary to become a great cricketer

In a wide-ranging interview for the BBC, he also said the academy, launched 18 months ago, was still "miles away" from being at the level he wanted it to be.

Marsh, interviewed for the Sport on Five programme, also refused to criticise the number of county teams involved in first-class domestic cricket in England.

But he was most vehement about the issue of number of games played in the season.

Interviewer Kevin Howells put it to Marsh that young professional cricketers frequently complained of having to play too much cricket.

Marsh responded: "Name me another professional sport where you basically get seven months off.

Eventually the penny will drop, the culture will change Rod Marsh

"What do they do in the winter time? Go away and play if they can. What do they do pre-season? Go and get ready for the season.

"The more you play the better you should become because playing is a lot more fun than practising. That's the attitude I want these youngsters to take."

Marsh said the academy would take time to bear fruit for English cricket.

"You have to be patient and we have a lot of work to do still and it's mainly the players who have to realise what it takes and make the commitment.

"There is the talent there but they have to understand all the things that go to make a great Test player.

"They have to make personal sacrifices and be prepared to develop what talent they have.

BBC Sport archive: Marsh leads Aussie revolution

"Eventually the penny will drop, the culture will change and there will be 30 or 40 guys to choose from."

Marsh played down the hype surrounding 20-year-old seamer James Anderson, who is primed to make his Test debut after starring in England's one-day side over the winter.

"It's early doors for him. He's only been in the game five minutes," said Marsh, a former Aussie Test player.

"He's got very good ability and I'm sure if he continues to develop he will be an outstanding bowler for England."