Australia is on top in the second Test in Adelaide and it's all thanks to a magnificent unbeaten century from S̶t̶e̶v̶e̶ ̶S̶m̶i̶t̶h̶ Shaun Marsh.

If you did a double-take as you watched his dominance on Sunday, you're not alone — it wasn't what many were expecting.

But when the elder of the Marsh brothers was selected for the Ashes last month, we wrote, "Maybe, just maybe, there is method to what many will consider is the madness of Australia's selectors."

Well, he's already gone a long way towards rewarding their faith.

Cricket writer Geoff Lemon, a regular critic of Marsh's selections, was among the many with a mea culpa this morning:

Let it be carved on the stone of record by my own hand: in this season's second Test, across the first two days at Adelaide Oval, in the Year of a New Album by Lorde, Two Thousand and Seventeen, Marsh made a vital Ashes century at a time of Australian need.

This morning, we gave our cricket subscribers on ABC News on Messenger a chance to offer apologies of their own.

These were some their responses.

Firstly, a surprising number of you made it clear that you had nothing to be sorry for

Some had been believers since the beginning:

"Always thought you were our go-to guy mate," Douglas C said.

"I liked Shaun Marsh from the start. Totally," Tom W said.

"Dear Shaun, always knew we'd see you dispatch a Stuart Broad pie over the sight screen. Well played," Chris J said.

"I knew all along that Shaun was the man we needed in a crisis. All the doubters were eastern staters who thought what the team really needed as a talentless New South Welshman. When WA succeeds from this false Commonwealth and we retain all our cricket prowess, the impoverished Eastern seaboard will finally appreciate West Australia as Best Australia," Roland B said.

"Called it. Classiest batsman we have aside from Smith," Darren G said.

Others had made bold predictions:

"I've spent the last week telling all my mates that S Marsh would top-score in this test for the Aussies. I'm nearly always very wrong, but even my mates humbly admit I've finally jagged one," Gordon A said.

"I betted my Ford Transit that this bloke would make the judgement call. Had he not I'd be walking to work right now," Zoraiz K.

And others felt he'd been unfairly judged:

"Shaun has always been elite! Some bad luck for Australia in the past but will be the next Hussey now batting at 6," Jamie F said.

"I knew he was a class batsman who was always quickly and unfairly judged. No surprises he hit a tonne," Lachie D said.

"I say to all you doubters, suffer in your jocks. And good bloody job Shaun. I'm proud," Alison M said.

"I didn't think he would be the 'saviour' but I have been singing his song for a while that he should be our #3 or #6. He's very solid and composed, and just needed a confidence boost at the top level to get his wheels going," Joel L said.

"Man crush alert!!!! He has always been a spectacular batsman. Well done on making the most of this opportunity, thoroughly deserved that ton," Julian R.

Marsh also made plenty of converts to go with his runs

Finally, we could see what the selectors could:

"Selectors have given Shaun Marsh plenty of chances, but I guess he deserved them! Apologies Shaun, for underestimating you. And to the selectors for wrongly assuming they'd made a poor choice!" Siobhan C said.

"I admit it, I was wrong … I thought it was a huge mistake. After the first test I'd written him off but he saved us yesterday. Well done Shaun," Scott R said.

"I think many of us were sceptical, worried that the Aussie team was being carried by Smith and Warner. But how good to see Shaun step up and lead the way forward, and set the tone for others in the team to follow. Australian Cricket was yelling out for it," Alex R said.

"Had no trust in Shaun, but do have trust in boof. We all thought he was crazy for recalling Mitchell Johnson in 2013, and look how that worked out," Thomas A said.

"Dearest Shaun, my most humble apologies for not believing in you. As an Australian, I have failed you and the great sport of cricket. Clearly, I was wrong, you are incredibly talented. Also, well done on getting more tons then your dad!" Nic W said.

"Sorry for doubting you big man. Played with finesse and composure yesterday. What a performance!" Will G said.

"I was wrong! Sorry Shaun," Robyn J said.

"I'm so sorry for doubting you Shaun Marsh. Please forgive me. I'm loving your cricket," Linda T said.

"Knew he could bat, I didn't back him mentally though. He looked very in control all the way through. Well done Shaun," Joshua T said.

However, there are still plenty of doubters

Some of you pointed out that we've had one-match heroes before:

"One crack does not maketh the man," Belinda P said.

"One-hit wonder?" Tom C said.

"One match does not makes one a hero … we have had lot of players who were a one-match hero…" Sumit B said.

"Sorry Shaun … BUT plenty of cricket to be played yet. One saving knock does not a hero batsman make…" Tim J said.

"One tonne doesn't make a first-class cricketer. Hot and cold form isn't great either. Let's see how the rest of the Ashes plays out," Elyse H said.

"Still have had way too many chances. Still don't rate him," Matt K said.

"One good innings still does not mean you have improved to the level of deserving another Test recall. You will need to back it up for the next 1 inning and 3 matches to prove that you deserved a recall," Ben K said.

You also pointed out that it's about consistency:

"He did not deserve the opportunity. In the history of the game how many have been gifted as many as S.Marsh? However, my main criticism with him stems with an apparently fragile mind that seemed unable to allow any sort of consistency or confidence at the highest level. A bridge too far. This was a quality innings under pressure but consistency is now the key for S.Marsh. That has to be the new standard bearer for him. Lone standout innings surrounded by a sea of substandard performances must become a thing of his past before anointing Marsh a selection success," Darren C said.

"Inconsistency is S Marsh's problem. He needs to continue performing for the rest of the series to justify his selection. Looking good so far, though," Glenn I said.

"Still not convinced, all of the top order except Bancroft scored runs, clearly not that hard of a task to score on that wicket," Matt S said.

"Shaun Marsh is a good cricketer with a near-perfect batting technique, but his selection is too short-sighted given his age and injury history," Anthony O said.

"Doubted him big time, good on him though! Still have a few doubts though," Daniel P said.

"This has happened before, look back a few years ago when Australia toured Sri Lanka and he scored 144 then went 0, 1, 0 in his next three innings. He still has a lot to prove," Talbot S said.