Fatherhood came naturally to Ed Cowan, according to his wife Virginia.

Nailing down the Test opening spot? Now that was a challenge.

But the Tasmanian appeared to finally be getting the hang of it when notching his maiden ton for Australia in the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba on Monday.

Cowan has impressed Virginia since the birth of their daughter Romy 12 weeks ago, even hogging nappy changing duties.

However, the 30-year-old knew he had to get his hands dirty on the field to please national selectors in Brisbane.

On borrowed time after failing to reach triple figures in his 12 previous Test knocks and with a Test average of less than 30, Cowan finally got the monkey – and selectors – off his back as his young family watched from the stands.

Cowan pulled Vernon Philander to the boundary – his 14th four – to reach the magical mark just after lunch on day four before raising his arms in triumph.

His only complaint would have been the fact the Gabba crowd’s warm applause woke up a sleeping Romy in Virginia’s arms.

Virginia admitted their child had slept easier than her husband overnight before Cowan resumed on 49 on Monday in what loomed as his most important Test knock.

“Romy slept through the whole night but I don’t think her father slept so well. He tends not to when he goes to bed during an innings,” she told ABC Radio.

“(But) he’s an incredible dad. He’s taken to it like a duck to water.

“When he’s at home I don’t get a look in. He changes all the nappies.

“He’s a jack of all trades.”

Cowan can now safely add Test opener to his list of skills after his maiden ton.

“It’s what he’s been striving for all his life,” Virginia said.

But it’s been a bumpy ride.

The ex-NSW batsman had to move to Tasmania after the 2008-09 season to get a regular shot at first class cricket.

And in his 2011 book “In the Firing Line”, Cowan lamented how he sometimes felt invisible as a Sheffield Shield player.

But all eyes are now on him.

“He never took it home if he had a bad day in the field,” Virginia said.

“If he is too worked up he runs it out.”

Cowan must have been doing a lot of jogging of late.

Passed over when Cricket Australia handed out their 17 contracts this season, Cowan averaged only 21 in Shield cricket ahead of the Gabba clash and had notched just three half centuries in his seven Tests.

But an aggressive Cowan made his own luck in Brisbane, surviving a caught behind shout off Morne Morkel on 47 late on Sunday when replays revealed a no-ball.

He had more nervous moments on Monday but nothing could deny a relieved Cowan from a milestone that ensures his young family remains on the Australian team’s “travelling circus”.

“It’s a bit like that but we are enjoying it. It’s like one big family,” Virginia said.

“Hopefully we will be doing it for the whole summer.”