Marnus Labuschagne couldn't help but ponder a maiden Test hundred on a sleepless Friday night and once he got there - a bit like the rest of career - things didn't go according to script.
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The Queenslander's breakthrough century against Pakistan was a big one.
Labuschagne utilised all corners of the Gabba ground in a six-hour knock of 185 that continues a relationship with the venue he admits is "peculiar".
A fist pump on reaching triple figures didn't go as the younger version of himself had planned, but the South African-born talent says that's nothing new.
"I took a catch, wicket and run-out (in Tests) before I got a run," he said.
"There was a time there (on debut) in Dubai that I didn't think I was going to make a Test run.
"The way it's all happened is quite peculiar."
Now 25, Labuschagne and his family moved to Australia when he was 10 and he first featured in a Test at the Gabba in 2010 when he was paid $90 a day to move the Nine Network's hot spot camera.
In 2014, he made his name when he took a smart catch at short leg as a sub-fielder for Australia at the same ground, four years before his Test debut.
In January, he scored his first Test half-century in Brisbane, hitting 81 against Sri Lanka in what remained his highest score for Australia until Saturday.
He became Test cricket's first concussion substitute during the Ashes and then averaged 50.42 to return for the Australian summer as one of the first picked.
"The strange things just keep piling up on each other," he said.
"I always wanted to play for Australia and believed I could, but the way it's all unfolded is definitely not the way I pictured it in my mind.
"The ups and downs ... you always think 'this is the way I want to do it' .. (but) the process is so much longer than that."
A cricket tragic who spends his spare time coaching kids and playing social games in his garage, Labuschagne said he was up early on Saturday having reached stumps unbeaten on 55.
"I woke up around three o'clock I reckon and just couldn't stop thinking about cricket," he said.
"You can't help but think 'imagine if you get your first Test century, (on your) home ground'."
It was his sixth time beyond 50 for Australia and the desire to finally crack triple figures was front of mind.
"There was definitely times out there were I was like 'just let me get there'," he said.
"Was lucky enough I got a thick edge ... and then it was just looking back seeing it trickle along the ground ... thank you.
"You always think as a kid 'how are you going to celebrate a hundred' and that was nothing like I thought."
Australian Associated Press