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Marsh the 'difference': de Villiers

Allrounder's terrific 96 was the backbone for Australia's imposing first innings total

Mitchell Marsh’s stunning return to the Test team reached new heights after the allrounder produced perhaps his best innings for his country to drive Australia to a commanding position on day two of the first Test in Durban.

Marsh fell four runs short of his third Test century – caught by the outstretched hands of towering quick Morne Morkel at mid-on trying to reach triple-figures with one stroke – but his 96 showed grit, patience, good judgement and application.

It was a character-defining knock that had former Australia Test batsman Simon Katich calling for Marsh to be Steve Smith’s successor as national captain once the incumbent skipper gives the top job away in the future. 

Entering the fray at 4-151 as Australia lost their captain, Marsh backed his technique and temperament as he crafted out crucial partnerships with gloveman Tim Paine (60), Mitchell Starc (49) and Nathan Lyon (41) to push the tourists to a dominant first-innings score of 351.

Day wrap: Starc, Marsh star as Proteas stumble

South Africa star AB de Villiers was reluctant in giving praise to the Australia allrounder after play, but said his performance has been the decisive innings in the match across the opening two days.

"I don’t want to blow his horn too much but he certainly was the difference in the two innings," de Villiers said.

"Take his score away there batting at six, we’re about to break through, about to make them sweat a bit and comes in and scores basically a hundred. 

"That’s huge. He’s had a big impact on this game so far and we’re going to have to find a way to keep him quiet for the rest of it."

Sizzling Starc skittles Proteas with five-fa

Marsh’s innings at Kingsmead is the latest entry into a growing collection of outstanding performances since he was recalled for the third Magellan Ashes Test on his home turf of Perth last November.

He celebrated his injury-forced nine-month absence from the Baggy Green with his maiden Test century – a bludgeoning 182 at the WACA Ground – and two matches later he had another hundred, this time 101 at the SCG.

In between his first two Test tons, Marsh showed he had both power and patience as he batted for 198 minutes, faced 166 balls and scored just 29 to ensure a draw at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and deny England any reason to celebrate in the Ashes.

It’s been a remarkable start to the second phase of Marsh’s Test career, which was brought about by a shoulder reconstruction that left him unable to bowl for six months but allowed him to work on his batting and tighten a technique that had seen the right-hander average just 21 in his first 21 Tests. 

In his past four Tests, Marsh is averaging 104.

Flying Lyon strikes twice in his opening over

"It was obviously an important innings not only for myself but more importantly for the team," Marsh said. 

"I was really proud of the way I was able to bat with the tail today. 

"We’re obviously sitting in a really good position now and I’m stoked to have contributed to that."

Marsh says the changes he’s made have been both mental and technical. 

"I’ve worked extremely hard on my defence, keeping the good balls out and at any level of cricket is what you have to do," he said.

"And I think that’s given me a lot more confidence now to be a lot more patient and choose the right balls to play shots at. 

Smith explains importance of Starc's cameo innings

"I think that’s really helped me mentally batting wise, so that’s pretty much all I’ve done.

"I used to be quite intense at the crease, every ball. And it wears you out when you do that for a long period of time. 

"I probably can’t repeat some of the stuff I think about on the field now when I’m batting in between balls, but I try and keep my mind clear and switch on when the bowler is at the top of his mark and it seems to have helped me."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3