After trial and error I can confirm that the starter shaft should spin counter clockwise if you are looking directly at the shaft.
Just did a bush replacement, cleaned starter components and new 8 gauge wiring (neg and positive and a direct earth to the starter) and for the first time in my ownership it starts within seconds (cold) with the e start with gusto vs a struggling sounds I used to get even when warm. Finally cracked it. Hopefully it stays that way