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Renshaw reveals Test slip surprise

Matt Renshaw at the crease for Australia. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
2nd December, 2016
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It seems no one was more surprised that Australia’s Matt Renshaw slotted into first slip on Test debut than the man himself.

The 20-year-old admitted he thought captain Steve Smith was either joking or talking to someone else when fielding spots were allocated for the recent third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

England-born Renshaw seemed resigned to the traditional fielding baptism of fire for Test rookies at dreaded short leg.

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That was until Smith gave him the nod for the slips cordon at their team meeting – not that Renshaw was 100 per cent sure at the time.

“We came into the camp and Smith was saying where everyone was fielding,” Renshaw told Sky Sports Radio.

“He pointed in my general direction and was like ‘he will be at first’.

“I turned around (to see if he was talking to someone else).

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“I wasn’t sure if he was serious until he said ‘you coming out for a catch’ so I followed him along sheepishly and barely said a word in the slips catching drill.”

Renshaw repaid Smith’s faith when he took a low diving chance to dismiss South Africa danger man Hashim Amla in the first innings in Adelaide.

The towering Matthew Hayden lookalike kept his fingers crossed his height might work in his favour the next time he is lucky to take the field for Australia.

“I have fielded at short leg a few times (for Queensland) but I think I am too tall (for Australia),” he laughed.

Renshaw will hope to press his claims for another Test nod after returning to Sheffield Shield duty with Queensland.

The left-handed opener appears in the box seat to retain his spot with main threat Shaun Marsh struggling to return from a broken finger for Western Australia.

WA hosts Queensland in their day-night Shield clash in Perth from Monday.

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