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Peter Nevill makes statement after Australia Test axing with Sheffield Shield century for New South Wales
By Scott RollinsonBellerive Oval is the venue where Peter Nevill's Test career stalled.
It is also where the resurrection began.
As the discarded Test wicketkeeper walked out to bat for New South Wales on day one of the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart last Saturday, he had to cross the remnants of the pitch responsible for him being dumped back to the state competition.
Nevill had a plan, and he stuck to it.
It was a knock full of patience, determination and fight.
He finished 179 not out off 331 balls to put the Blues in a potentially match-winning position.
While his bat did the talking, sending a timely reminder of what he was capable of, Nevill kept quiet throughout the match, as the Tigers fought back on the final day to force a draw.
Nevill's team-mates however, were happy to talk about their wicketkeeper.
On day one, it was his captain Moises Henriques who flew the Nevill flag.
"I'm sure he'd be disappointed he's not playing for Australia but he knows there's only one way to get back in there and that's by scoring runs," Henriques said.
"Pete's had a pretty hard run of luck over the last six months to a year.
"He's come in under pressure trying to dig the team out and he's had a couple of bad decisions and dismissals.
"'Nevy has always been a fighter for us, he has saved our backsides in many games for New South Wales.
"I think to say he is not a fighter is completely ridiculous."
On day two it was bowler Trent Copeland who followed on.
"He's batting at five for us, that says a lot about where he is in our batting line-up and what he brings to the table," Copeland said.
"He just looked at ease.
"Whenever he's played for the Blues he scores runs, he takes catches, he's as clean as a whistle behind the stumps and I love having him there."
Nevill building compelling case for Test return
Blues opener Ed Cowan kept his praise short and sweet on day three.
"170 not out and five dismissals, I think the statistics in this case tell it all," Cowan said.
On the final day, Blues assistant coach Geoff Lawson said what many had been thinking.
"He answered selectors, I don't know if he's had too many critics, he's had a lot of support actually from around the place," Lawson said.
"When you come back with an innings like that and you keep so well it probably says yep here I am and I'm in front of everybody and take notice of me.
"He's just telling people that 'I should be playing for Australia'."
Over four days at Bellerive Oval, Nevill did not mutter a word about himself - but he made one hell of a statement.