Mitch Marsh's Headingley century has the potential to reignite his Test career and start an extended final chapter, according to his state coach and famous late-bloomer Adam Voges.
Marsh has retained his spot for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, having made it impossible to leave him out after scoring 118 in his first red-ball match for Australia in four years last week.
The 31-year-old's career looked over as recently as a few weeks ago, having earned a reputation as Cameron Green's understudy with four first-class games in three years.
But Green's strained hamstring before Headingley and Marsh's ability to seize his opportunity has changed that.
Voges, who himself debuted in Test cricket as a 35-year-old in 2015, has played with Marsh since his younger days at Western Australia, before now coaching him.
And while he believes Marsh's technique has not changed significantly since his last life as a Test player in 2019, he sees a far more mature and confident man now.
And he also sees no reason why Marsh can't revive his Test career long-term, fitness pending.
"His body will determine that. But if he can stay healthy, I think yes is the answer to that," Voges told AAP.
"He will still have to be considered an allrounder for longevity. But having said that I thought he bowled beautifully last week.
"Playing all formats as well, that will be difficult. But I think he is coming into his prime years from a maturity point of view.
"If his body can hold up he will play a lot of international cricket over the next few years."
Voges' comments came as Australia opted to play both Marsh and Green at Old Trafford, leaving out Todd Murphy and going without a frontline spinner.
But Voges said he believed the only way for them both to fit into the team long term was with both batting in the top six.
"If there's a way to get them both in, they both have to be in the top six from a longer-term perspective," Voges said.
"There is no reason why that can't happen."
Voges does not, however, believe it could work with one of the pair opening, despite that being the most likely chance for a new batter in the team when David Warner retires in January.
"I think both could bat at No.3. I wouldn't go any higher than that," Voges sad.
"Then it probably comes down to workloads with the ball, and how they go batting at No.3 if you do need to make a significant contribution with the ball on a regular basis.
"If they felt one was going to do more work with the ball than the other, than maybe they are the one to bat at No.6.
"But that workload does decrease, sharing the load with both in the team. And that's why I think it could be sustainable for them to both be in the top six."
