Family time key to Marsh rejuvenation

A few days away from the game has proven decisive in Shaun Marsh's dramatic return to form that's seemingly silenced the debate about him retaining his Test spot to take on India next month.

After scoring just 14 runs in four innings on a disappointing Test tour of the UAE last month, Marsh has returned to his best in recent weeks, scoring a double of 80 and 98 in a JLT Sheffield Shield match and posting an impressive ODI century against South Africa on Sunday night.

The left-hander's third century in his past six ODI innings will make him hard to overlook for Australia's World Cup defence next year, and in the short term it's gone a long way to ensuring he'll remain in the Test side as well.

And he says a few days away from cricket following the horrors of the Pakistan series, including a trip to the Western Australian tourist hub of Rottnest Island, has been critical in his form resurgence.

"It was nice to come home (from the UAE), I had a few days off and just got away from cricket for a few days," the Perth native said.

"I just wanted to come back and play with that freedom and I thought I did in that Shield game. Moving forward, I've just got to keep trying to bat like that.

"I just stayed away from cricket. I just chilled out on the boat and went over to 'Rotto' for a day and just got away from cricket just to refresh the mind.

"It was a disappointing tour for me, so I just wanted to come home and recharge the batteries and it's worked well for me."

Marsh's recent run of good form has come either side of a bizarre injury – an abscess on his buttocks - that ruled him out of the opening match of the Gillette ODI Series in Perth.

Having been the 'butt' of a few light-hearted jokes from his teammates in recent days, the 35-year-old has revealed just how much discomfort he was in.

"It wasn't the most pleasant experience I've been through," he said sheepishly. "Hopefully I don't have to go through it ever again.

"It gradually got worse and worse and by Saturday night (before the game) I was struggling to walk.

"I was nowhere near 100 per cent. So I had minor surgery and it went really well so it's come good really, really quickly."

Marsh will now look to continue his good form when he returns to WA's Shield side before the first of four Domain Tests against India begins in Adelaide on December 6.

Australia v South Africa ODI series

First ODI: South Africa won by six wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by seven runs

Third ODI: South Africa won by 40 runs