The ridicule and scorn surely has subsided. Although one never quite knows how long this serenity will last for Shaun Marsh - one of Australian cricket's well-worn punching bags. Right now, Marsh is savouring the best form of his career after a wondrous comeback during the Ashes. A brilliant 156 on day four of the Ashes finale capped off a stunning resurrection for the much-maligned batsman. He has scored 445 runs overall to sit only behind the peerless Steve Smith as the leading run-scorer in the series.
The batting cyborg of Smith aside, Marsh has been Australia's second-most reliable batsman of the series, something that seemed unfathomable not long ago when the West Australian continually underwhelmed at Test level. When Marsh was dropped after the Test tour of India early last year, it appeared his international career ended with a whimper. He seemed destined to be remembered as an underachieving batsman, who just frustratingly couldn't get it together at the elite level despite his obvious talents.
Aged 34 and content with life having recently become a father, Marsh seemingly accepted his fate and appeared content churning out runs at the domestic level. A relaxed Marsh confidently started the Australian summer in a blaze of glory but we had seen it all before. Despite continual brilliance for WA, a dubious public did not believe Marsh had undergone some type of transformation.
Marsh's eventual Ashes selection led to the inevitable chorus of criticism but he's justified the eternal faith from the selectors with unwavering batting to finally showcase his undeniable talents.
"Six months ago I lost my contract and was left out of the Test team and didn't know what the future held at this level," he said on Sunday (January 7). "I went away and wanted to just enjoy myself and when I did get picked again it was emotional. It's been a lot of fun over these last six weeks and to be part of an Ashes series has been very special."
Marsh hasn't just filled his boots at the pointy end, he produced pivotal knocks in Brisbane and Adelaide to help setup Australia's early lead and eventual Ashes triumph. Batting at No.6 for the opening two Tests, Marsh showed far more resiliency than ever before - although he had shown signs in India - and a complete understanding of his game, which looks watertight.
Most memorably, Marsh enjoyed a stellar performance by combining with younger brother Mitchell in a fifth-wicket partnership of 169 to torment England in stifling temperatures of over 40 degrees. They became the first brothers to score a ton in the same innings for Australia since Mark and Steve Waugh in 2001 against England at the Oval.
In what looms as an indelible moment for the duo, the brothers started hugging mid-pitch to celebrate Mitch's century before they had completed the second run. Suddenly, the ball was thrown from the deep forcing the pair to break from their embrace and scamper through for the run. Amid the chaotic scenes, Smith was left gob smacked on the team balcony as it seemed like an embarrassing run out might ensue.
"Emotions got the better of me and I wanted to give him a hug," Shaun said. "To be out there with Mitch, to both score our Test centuries today for Australia, being out there and sharing each other's emotions when we got to our hundreds, was an extremely happy moment. It'll certainly be a day that we won't forget."
Mitchell admitted he was nervous overnight after he was unable to get his brother on strike for the final few deliveries of day four with Shaun delicately poised on 98. There was anticipation swirling around the SCG that Shaun was set to replicate Steve Waugh's infamous deeds from the 2002-03 Ashes on the same ground and hit a last ball century but Mitch stonewalled in defence much to the frustration of the crowd.
"We both had a pretty rough night's sleep last night," Mitchell said. "Me because I couldn't get off strike in the last over and Shaun because he was on 98 I'm guessing. To be out there to watch Shaun hit that cover drive and embrace in the middle for his hundred and then have him out there for mine and to have him out there through my nineties where I was really nervous today is something that we'll look back on in a few years and really cherish it."
After the batting heroics from the Marsh brothers, Australia's attack probed away at England's brittle batting and they need just six wickets on day five to claim a 4-0 series triumph. The pitch is still playing well but Nathan Lyon, Australia's offspinner, dazzled with a couple of wickets and looms as the main threat on the final day of the series.
"I think Gaz (Lyon) is the key tomorrow," Shaun said. "The wicket is definitely suiting the conditions, especially with the left handers he'll come into play. I thought he bowled really well today and showed his class and hopefully he can come out tomorrow and get a few early breakthroughs for us."
Sons of WA luminary Geoff Marsh, Shaun and Mitchell have long been deemed as missing pieces for Australia's struggling batting order and finally they have cemented their positions to loom as key figures in Australia's crucial upcoming Test tour of South Africa.
One can feel robbed of Shaun not harnessing his gifts earlier in his career but it's a case of better late than never. And, like his former WA teammates Chris Rogers and Adam Voges, he is set for a late career flourish over the next few years alongside his beloved younger brother.
