Australian opener Aaron Finch insists he didn't feel like he had a point to prove entering the second Test against India at Perth Stadium.
Finch was under huge pressure to perform after his double failure in Adelaide, with some critics suggesting he wasn't up to the task of taming the new ball.
Coach Justin Langer resisted the urge to drop Finch down the order, and the 32-year-old repaid the faith with a gritty 50 off 105 balls in scorching 39-degree heat.
His 112-run opening stand with Marcus Harris (70) gave Australia a strong foundation, with the home side reaching 6-277 at stumps on a tricky Perth Stadium wicket.
Finch is still trying to establish himself in the Test side, but said he hadn't been affected by the recent heavy criticism levelled at him.
"You never play to prove anyone wrong or prove a point, or for any other ambition other than to get your side in as good a position you can," Finch said.
"Some days you have a good day, other days you have a shocking day.
"That's a part of the game, and it's part of opening the batting in Test cricket. It's good fun. There's never a dull moment."
Finch's innings was finally brought undone when he was trapped lbw by a full Jasprit Bumrah delivery.
By that stage he had already won over plenty of admirers for his gritty knock.
Finch, who is a proven performer in the white-ball game, had scored 20 runs from his first 31 balls.
But he showed he was also capable of grinding it out when the going became tough by scoring just three runs from the next 39 deliveries.
However, Finch's innings wasn't without its fair share of scares.
He survived two confident lbw shouts off consecutive balls when he was on 20.
India reviewed the first, with ball-tracking vision showing Mohammed Shami's delivery would have gone over the stumps.
Finch's second lbw appeal was even closer - with ball-tracking vision declaring it would have been the umpire's call.
The original decision was not out, and India didn't review it anyway.
Finch also survived a run-out scare earlier in his innings.
But those were rare lapses from the right-hander, who was able to maintain a high level of concentration in the sapping heat.
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