Renshaw, 30, went on to make a career-best 190, steering Australia to 390 all out at Kingsmead before Josh Hazlewood struck in the second over of South Africa’s reply.

The hosts were 27 for one at the close.

Renshaw’s only previous Test century was 184 against Pakistan in Sydney in January 2017.

Since then he has experienced the downside of international sport having been left out of the side for two lengthy periods and even being dropped from his state team, Queensland, before a recall to the Test team against Bangladesh in August this year.

“It’s a weird one,” he said of the way he celebrated when he hit the boundary for his century.

“Once I’d had a few years out of the team, then had an opportunity in 2023 and didn’t take it, you probably think that you’re never going to get this opportunity again so when I hit the ball I was screaming at it, ’Go, go, go’.

“It sort of all just hit me at once,” he added.

Batting partner Nathan Lyon joined in the emotion but the pair quickly got back down to the business of draining the energy out of the South African bowlers on a hot, humid day.

The 134-run ninth wicket partnership with Lyon – a record for Australia in Tests against South Africa – swung the balance of the match decisively in Australia’s favour after they had been floundering at 124 for six on the first day.

They were still vulnerable at 230 for eight when Lyon came in to face the tenth delivery with the second new ball, with South Africa eager to finish off the innings.

By Renshaw’s estimation he turned down 40 or more runs as he tried to keep the majority of the strike, only taking singles towards the end of overs.

The plan was simple – keep South Africa in the field for as long as possible to test the endurance of bowlers who last played a Test in November.

“That was the benefit for us, just keeping them out in the field,” he said.

“Get their quicks coming back on, trying to get them back in their third, fourth, fifth spells.”

Wiaan Mulder, South Africa’s most successful bowler with four for 68, said the pitch “was really slow and there was not a lot of sideways movement.”

“I think we bowled well but Renshaw played beautifully.

“He left extremely well, he played what was in front of him and it was important for him to keep the strike the way he did.”

–AFP

Photo: Gerhard Duraan/Gallo Images