“Trying to plan my life at the moment is interesting,” Matt Renshaw says, with wry understatement.

“I don’t really know where I’m going to be, but I’m enjoying it.”

As well he might. Renshaw’s fourth coming for Australia might be the best of them all.

Discussing his maiden one-day international century, 109 off 94 balls to set up Australia’s 59-run win over Zimbabwe in Harare on Tuesday, he admitted: “I didn’t think I was going to play one-day cricket (for Australia).”

He did not expect to be in the Test squad for the forthcoming series in South Africa either. Or playing T20 internationals. Now the 30-year-old finds himself an all-format Australia representative.

His ODI hundred was his first in national colours since his only Test century, 184 opening the innings against Pakistan in the 2017 Sydney Test, his fourth Test match.

A long Test career beckoned, but eight months later he was dropped after 149 runs in nine innings.

In the wake of “Sandpapergate” there was a recall. He made eight and five in Johannesburg and was gone again.

This time he was five years in the wilderness before being back in the baggy green, as a middle-order bat, but after scores of five not out, nought, two and two he was axed once more.

Then, in October last year, aged 29, he made his ODI debut in the series with India. He did well. That led to opportunities with the T20 side. He did well enough.

Finally, with the David Warner-sized hole in the Test team still unfilled, he got a Test recall in Mackay last month.

He says he is calmer now and keeping the game in perspective.

“Playing any cricket for Australia is awesome,’‘ Renshaw said.

“I’m taking it it seriously, obviously, but also trying to enjoy it. I know that I play my best when I’m relaxed. Whatever happens, happens.”

The secret to his revival, he says, was dropping down the order in the Big Bash. He had been opening the batting in Shield and one-day cricket for Queensland, and wasn’t sure how to play in the latter, but in the middle order he found clarity.

“Higher up the order I got a bit giddy,’‘ he said.

“I’m thinking, ‘I’m opening the batting, there’s two out, you’ve got to slog’, where for me my tempo when I come in the middle overs is just trying to hit the gaps, hit where the fielders aren’t.

“Aand with spin being a very big factor in that middle period, and I see it as my strength, I really understood my role. It made it really simple for me.”

Nevertheless, a century seemed out of reach.

“You’re batting at six. You’re not expecting to get 100, or if you do, it’s probably slogging, not coming in early,” Renshaw said.

As it was he came in at 4-107 in the 18th over and departed at 8-288 in the last.

That - and a useful bowling sideline - should secure his ODI place for a while. Now to cement a Test spot with the Ashes on the horizon and a possible first appearance against the country of his birth. That would be very interesting.