Comeback king tons up again on return

Shaun Marsh has capped his latest return to Test cricket with his fourth Test century on the third day of the final Test at Colombo’s SSC Ground.

The sublime century was made even more special for the Western Australian by the arrival of wife Rebecca and two-month-old son Austin to the Sri Lankan capital last night.

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The Australia opener brought up the milestone 30 minutes before lunch on the third morning with a fine sweep for four in a 214-ball knock that featured 16 boundaries.

The left-handed Marsh is by no means a stranger to making a statement following a recall to the Test side.

In the six innings Marsh has played when he wasn’t selected in the previous Test – excluding returns from injury – the classy left-hander now averages 75.5.

And it all began back in Sri Lanka five years ago with a stunning knock of 141 on debut at the Pallekele Stadium, just outside Kandy.

But Marsh’s Test career hit a hurdle during the 2011-12 home summer that followed when he scored just 17 runs across six innings against India and was dropped for the first time.

Image Id: ~/media/A022A6984D09477FB9F9A35E39E1721A Image Caption: Marsh registers a century on debut in Pallekele // Getty

He eventually earned a recall two years later when he was selected to take on the No.1 ranked South Africans, who boasted a bowling attack featuring Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander.

And he responded with an imperious knock of 148 to help set up an emphatic 281-run victory in Centurion.

However, a pair of ducks in the second Test meant Marsh made way for veteran allrounder Shane Watson in the thrilling decider in Cape Town that ultimately led to Australia’s ascension to the top of the ICC rankings.

After being ruled out of the tour of the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan later in 2014 through injury, Marsh was again called upon during the home summer against India after captain Michael Clarke was struck down with a hamstring injury.

And when Chris Rogers was ruled out of last year’s Test tour of the Caribbean due to concussion, Marsh found himself again filling the gap, this time at the top of the order, where he produced a knock of 69 in the final innings of the series.

Image Id: ~/media/EBFA4A1C8C44485791C48B25EA55F1AB Image Caption: Marsh drives during his century at Centurion // Getty

That wasn’t enough to see him selected for the first Ashes Test a month later, but he did return for the fourth Test of the series at the expense of his brother Mitchell, but could only manage scores of 0 and 2 as Stuart Broad destroyed the tourists.

Back on the outer, an injury to Usman Khawaja in the Test series against New Zealand last summer meant Marsh was again back in the frame for the day-night Test in Adelaide.

In the difficult batting conditions against the pink Kookaburra ball, Marsh produced a vital knock of 49 to steer Australia through a tricky run chase.

And in the next Test, the series opener against the West Indies in Hobart, Marsh produced a career-best 182 in a thumping victory, although it wasn't enough to retain his spot in the side when Khawaja regained full fitness.

Image Id: ~/media/9C5DF433E0544A79AFBB9192B806333E Image Caption: Marsh during his 182 against the Windies last year // Getty

That was until the selectors swung the axe for the Test here in Colombo following poor batting performances in Pallekele and Galle.

The 33-year-old was one of two inclusions – along with Moises Henriques - for the dead rubber encounter, with Khawaja and Joe Burns the ‘unlucky’ batsmen to make way.

"We haven't had the results we would have liked here in Sri Lanka," coach and selector Darren Lehmann said before the match.

Quick Single: Lehmann explains selections for third Test

"We've picked a squad we think can play in these conditions. Shaun and 'Mo' are very good players of spin bowling.

"So they come into the side at the expense of Joe who's unlucky and 'Uz' who's unlucky.

"It's just the way it has been this tour. So we've got to try to change it around and change our fortunes and see how they go on these types of tracks."

Marsh’s terrific knock presents another conundrum for the National Selection Panel leading into the Commonwealth Bank Test campaign against South Africa in Australia later this year.

Whether or not Marsh is again cast aside, at least young Austin can say he was there to see his old man ton up.

You know, when he can talk.