Nov 30th, 2017

Nov 30th, 2017

With one-year-old son Austin in his hands or on his mind, Shaun Marsh has neither the inclination nor time to worry about trolls or stress about Tests.

Marsh's eighth Test recall triggered fresh waves of consternation and condemnation but Australian cricket's whipping boy delivered in the nation's hour of need at the Gabba.

Marsh will be filthy he didn't kick on after scoring 51 - a knock dwarfed in importance and excellence by Steve Smith's unbeaten 141.

But the veteran was involved in the turning point of the match; a 99-run stand with Smith that came when England were in the box seat to inflict Australia's first Test loss at the Gabba since 1988 and take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes.

The pressure on the 34-year-old could hardly have been more immense - the scoreboard read 4-76 and Glenn Maxwell was smashing a double-ton in Sydney.

The much-maligned batsman, who could face selection pressure from brother Mitch next week, learned he must ignore negative noise and focus on what matters a long time ago.

That approach has clearly sharpened since wife Bec gave birth to their first child last year.

"He'll always have his doubters. You just get on with it. Shaun's learned to deal with that really well, I don't think it bothers him in the slightest any more," Marsh's friend and former state captain Adam Voges told AAP.

Marsh with son Austin and wife Rebecca.

"Austin coming along has played a big role in that.

"When I went over to say congratulations after he was picked, Austin was tearing around.

"Shaun was sort of packing and getting ready to leave, but he was far more interested in what Austin was doing than what was going into his cricket bag.

"That probably sums up where he's at right now."

Voges, who holds the record for highest fourth-wicket Test stand after putting on 449 runs with Marsh two years ago in Hobart, suggested "when Shaun is on song he's as good as anybody around".

Coach Darren Lehmann noted prior to the first Test Marsh the formerly nervous starter Marsh is "pretty calm now, he's grown up a lot over the last few years".

Mitch Marsh has also noticed a marked difference since his older brother's approach to cricket.

"He's just got this great balance in life and he probably doesn't think about the game as much as he used to," Mitch Marsh said last month.

"(If he gets out cheaply) he goes home to his little champion of a son and plays with him. It's not all bad."

©AAP2017