Shaun Marsh banished the spectre of hamstring trouble - then followed in the footsteps of his father - with his maiden century in Thursday's dramatic three-run victory over India at Hyderabad.

Starting off in the slipstream of Shane Watson (93), much as former Australia opener Geoff Marsh often used to opposite David Boon, Marsh compiled 112 from as many balls, anchoring the Australian innings as it sped towards 4-350.

Marsh was unaware his father's first international century had also been against India, at Sydney in 1986, but said it was a moment he wouldn't soon forget.

"It's a day I will remember for a long time," he said.

"It's a good feeling to know that he (Dad) has scored a century for Australia and that now I have has well.

"I struggled with my timing at the start but knew if I could just hang in there it would get easier as it was a good batting wicket.

"I was happy that I hung in there and got the team into a decent position."

There were times during Marsh's recovery from a second serious hamstring tear, sustained during the series against Pakistan in Dubai in April, that he wondered about where it was all heading.

"It felt like I was never going to get there when I was doing recovery with my hamstrings and all that," he said.

"It was a long six months when I did it in Dubai and knew it would be a lot of hard work.

"All the hard work I have done over the past six months is paying off a little bit so I have to continue now to make sure I don't get too far in front of myself as I know this game can bite you on the bum very quickly."

No-one knows that better than his opening partner Watson, who has also experienced his fair share of long lay-offs, but batted without fear early on in Hyderabad to set-up the innings.

"I was struggling with my timing so for him to come out and bat the way he did was fantastic," Marsh said.

"Once he got out I knew I had to carry on and did so I was really happy with that."

While Marsh senior was not in India to witness the performance, there was considerable pride that Boon, Geoff's longtime opening partner and close friend, was looking on as the touring selector.

"It is fantastic (to have Boon here)," said Marsh.

"He and Dad had a fantastic partnership together when they played and he always comes over to dinner when he is in Perth."