Tied down by a combination of expectation, frustrating injuries and patchy form, Shaun Marsh fell out of love with cricket.

But having compiled a big century in the first Test against South Africa, the two parties are on much better terms.

Speaking the morning after he battled through the pain of a sore side and mind-numbing jetlag, Marsh suggested a stress-free approach had helped reignite his career.

“Going out there and having a clear mind and enjoying it are the main two things I’ve really tried to do over the last six months,” Marsh said.

“To try and go and have fun and play each game as if it’s my last.

“It was great fun yesterday, I really enjoyed batting with Smithy.”

It’s not as if Marsh doesn’t care though, a charge that has been levelled at him over the past 10 years amid a series of alcohol-related discipline breaches.

The help of two mentors, among the toughest figures in Australian cricket, helped steel the 30-year-old to play the most important knock of his life.

“I’ve worked really hard with Justin Langer over the past 12 months. He’s one of the most mentally tough players I’ve come across,” Marsh said.

“Simon Katich has been really good too.

“When you do get to this level you’ve got to be so mentally tough, and that’s something I’ve had to work really hard on over the past couple of years.”

Brad Haddin noted in the lead-up to the opening Test at Centurion that it was a case of now or never for Marsh, who made a century on Test debut in 2011 but couldn’t nail down his place in the side.

The West Australian agreed.

“You get to my age – I’m nearly 31 – and you’ve got to take your opportunities,” he said.

“Once you get to 30 you don’t get too many more.

“There was plenty of doubt (he would play Test cricket again).

“But I always knew that if I got an opportunity somewhere or scored some runs that I could come back here and play well.

“Hopefully I can keep building now.”