One lousy, ill-conceived quick single separated Shaun Marsh from the icing on his Boxing Day Test cake.

He trudged off the MCG with the body language of a batsman who had just gone for a first-ball duck, even though Marsh’s innings was vital for Australia and his own career.

Australia’s nemesis Virat Kohli struck again, running out Marsh for 99.

The West Australian was one run shy of his third Test century.

MS Dhoni would have known exactly how Marsh felt – the Indian captain was also run out for 99 two years ago in a Test against England.

Marsh was recalled to the Australian team for the second Test in Brisbane and badly needed a big score.

He was becoming better known for his inconsistency than his undoubted ability.

The No.5 came to the crease after the cheap dismissal of captain Steven Smith.

Australia’s lead was not quite 200 and they were far from secure.

Marsh batted sensibly as the Australian tail wagged again.

His vital 69-run stand with Ryan Harris for the eighth wicket was the biggest of the innings and they built Australia’s lead past 350.

Marsh had reached 86 when he gave Ravichandran Ashwin a hard caught-and-bowled chance.

The spinner could not hold the catch and Marsh took full toll, immediately hitting a six, a four and two to go well into the 90s.

Two overs later, Umesh Yadav tied down Marsh with five-straight dot balls.

On the last ball of the over, Marsh took off for his do-or-die single and Kohli showed a clean set of hands at mid-off for a direct hit at the non-striker’s end.

The replay immediately showed Marsh was a couple of centimetres short.

For how Marsh felt, it may as well have been a mile.