Captain Michael Clarke chose to keep him at No.3 ahead of Ricky Ponting and Shaun Marsh rewarded that faith on day one of the third Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Marsh, fresh from his 141 on debut in the second Test in Kandy, scored 81 as Australia ended the day on 5-235, with fellow West Australian Michael Hussey undefeated on 63.
The 28-year-old’s second composed innings in as many trips to the crease in Test matches came at a vital time for Australia with Ponting (48) the only other player to pass double-figures in the top order.
Phillip Hughes (0) and Shane Watson (8) both fell in the first hour after Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and sent the Australians in on a damp Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Hughes went in the second over of the day, chopping a Suranga Lakmal (2-39) delivery onto his stumps to make it 10 Test innings without a 50.
Then Watson fell, miscuing a drive straight to Dilshan at point to gift Shaminda Eranga a wicket with his very first ball in Test cricket.
Ponting and Marsh then added 79 for the third wicket before Ponting and Clarke (6) fell in quick succession nearing tea.
In between those two dismissals there was a bizarre incident where Mahela Jayawardene claimed a catch in slips as his team-mates appealed for LBW.
Sri Lanka had no referrals left but umpire Tony Hill took it upon himself to refer the matter to the TV umpire, with replays showing the ball was nowhere near the West Australian’s bat and he survived.
He did however fall after the tea break when Rangana Herath (1-60) got one through his defences but not after he’d made another crucial stand with Hussey to follow from their double-century stand in Kandy.
His dismissal also meant he narrowly missed out on becoming the first Australian to score a century in both of his first two Test innings.
“I knew I had a job to do and I was just looking forward to having another opportunity to do a job out there,” Marsh said.
“Just looking forward to the challenges. I’ve really enjoyed my first two innings in Test cricket.
“Loved every bit of being out there with the boys and whoever I’m batting with and trying to lap it up as much as I can.”
Marsh’s dismissal was followed by another solid partnership of 45-runs between Hussey and Brad Haddin (21no) that guided Australia through to stumps when umpires called off play for bad light.
Earlier in the day play got underway a half-hour late as the outfield dried following morning rain with both teams making big changes.
The Australians kept Marsh at three and played the returning Ponting at four with Clarke and Hussey both moving down one spot in the batting line-up.
Sri Lanka made the bold decision to drop middle-order veteran Thilan Samaraweera, who averages over 80 in Tests at this venue, while Suraj Randiv and Seekkuge Prasanna were also left out.
In their place came young opener Lahiru Thirimanne, paceman Eranga and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
The Test continues on Saturday with play to commence at 10am (1430 AEST).
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