As Matt Renshaw crawled through the first session yesterday, more than one Channel Nine commentator mentioned the Australian batsman had a limited range of strokes. Similar comments were being made by fans online.
It was an understandable opinion to have given that, in Renshaw’s brief Test career to that point, he had scored predominantly off his pads through the legside. His scoring avenues had been very limited.
For people who hadn’t seen the 20-year-old bat in the Sheffield Shield or domestic One Day Cup – neither competition is well followed – all the evidence they had was his shackled strokeplay in the baggy green.
But those of us cricket geeks who had got a good look at Renshaw at State level had seen him unfurl a far greater repertoire of shots, particularly when well set. Truly is a throwback opening batsman.
Like some of the great openers of the past, he prefers to play within narrow parameters until he feels well set.
Renshaw is at his most comfortable scoring through the leg side, so that’s what he focuses on before he gets his eye in. His vast patience allows him to wait and wait until the bowlers strays on to his pads before he looks to score.
At times this can be to his detriment – he undoubtedly needs to improve his strike rotation.
But it’s also a trait which should serve him well in the longest form of the game. The common desire among modern Australian batsman to immediately impose themselves on opposition bowlers is a key reason the side has had so many collapses in recent years.
Where many batsmen refuse to play within themselves in their first hour at the crease, Renshaw relishes it.
He’s also fortunate that, in the ballistic David Warner, he has the perfect opening partner to allow him to bat with such caution. Yesterday as Warner dashed to a century before lunch, Renshaw crept along. At the break, Warner was 100 from 78 balls and Renshaw was 25 from 84.
At no point during his 151-run stand with Warner did Renshaw let his ego get the better of him.
The young left hander did not try to match his teammate, content instead to operate in his slipstream. But once Warner was dismissed, Renshaw took it upon himself to up the ante.
After scoring at a strike rate of 30 in the first session, he doubled that to 62 in the second session. Then, after tea, we saw the full extent of Renshaw’s talent. He laced 84 from just 98 balls, playing in an expansive manner unrecognisable from his earlier approach.
Renshaw dispatched 11 deliveries to the rope in the third session, having hit just seven in the first two. Among them were scything cuts, powerful off drives, trademark flicks off the pads, and even one audacious shot more commonly associated with cavalier batsmen like Glenn Maxwell.
That stroke, a reverse sweep, flew off the middle of Renshaw’s blade from the bowling of one of the world’s elite spinners, Yasir Shah.
The very next ball Renshaw skipped down the deck and planted Yasir back over his head for another boundary. At this point, Renshaw was donning a Superman cape, long ago having shed his conservative Clark Kent persona.
So confident did Renshaw grow that, with just three balls left before stumps, he again charged Yasir and lofted the ball over mid off for four. It was a resounding finish to an extraordinary day for the rookie.
This settle-then-accelerate strategy has been the template for Renshaw’s batting at Shield level. In his last Shield match before earning Test selection, Renshaw dawdled to 22 runs from his first 103 deliveries, before sprinting to 136 runs from his next 151 balls.
It’s a tried and true method in Test cricket, but one which few batsmen these days have the patience to implement. Renshaw has not just the patience, but also the talent.
bearfax
Guest
I suspect you'll be right there
bearfax
Guest
I suspect he'll be much better than Elliott. And remember the kid is only 20 years old. Hayden wasnt as powerful a hitter as he became by the time he was in his mid 20s. I suspect Renshaw will seem a lot more like Hayden by the time he is in his mid 20s. I think he's playing it safe for now, learning his trade, playing it sensible. I suspect in a few years this kid will brutalise bowling attacks, just like Hayden, only he may do it better, if he really is as good as he seems. India will tell us a lot.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Renshaw looks a test batsman..not simply a batsman. There is a difference. The best test batsmen are methodical, mentally strong, highly proficient technicians. They have the ability to occupy the crease wearing down the bowler by keeping out the good balls and dealing mercilessly with the loose ones. To be able to time the ball into gaps and rotate the strike. Renshaw has the raw ingredients to be all of those. He showed us that in this Test match. Had he scored just 16 more runs he would have become the youngest Aussie ever to score a double hundred. Eclipsing even the legendary Donald George Bradman.
Don Freo
Guest
In everyone else's dictionary, it is derogatory and suggests a lack of batsmanship. It's hard to communicate if you use a different dictionary.
Rob
Guest
The term slogger is not a derogatory term in my cricket manual. There are blockers and leavers all of which can be very valuable players. You play the game that suits your ability. Warner is at his best being aggressive. He hits the ball in the air and swings the bat hard at wide deliveries which is what a slogger does. If you are out 75% of the time caught and have a SR. +75 you are a slogger IMO.
James Jackson
Guest
Joe Burns is a very good player, just not quite a player who's wicket always looked secure. Against the swinging ball he's very edgy and tends to leave gaps between bat and pad too often. Like I said, fantastic player, but if he's a top of the line Mercedes, then Matt Renshaw is a Rolls Royce.
Rob
Guest
I would suggest looking at some stats would reveal Renshaw is the perfect foil for Warner. Warner is usually at his best with a SR 80-100 and his partner is no greater than 40%. He has scored 18 test centuries with over half coming when his partner is batting balls while Warner is striking boundaries. This rubbish about his partner causing him problems by not turning over the strike is wrong. It's actually helping him IMO. 1st with Hughes 20 of 69 balls. SR. 29. 4th with Rogers 16 of 81 balls. SR. 20 5th with Rogers 54 from 135 ball. SR. 40 6th with Doolan 89 from154 balls SR. 57 8th with Rogers/Doolan 45 from107balls SR. 42 9th with Roger/Doolan 43 from 164 balls SR. 26 10th with Rogers/Watson 23 from 55 balls SR. 41 11th with Rogers/Watson 54 from 131 balls SR. 41 17th with Renshaw/Khawaga 107 from 205 balls SR. 52 18th with Renshaw 25 from 84 balls SR. 29 Warner loves a flat Australian deck also.
danno
Guest
Chris Lynn from the heat looks handy too.
Don Freo
Guest
Yep.
bearfax
Guest
Probably right there Rob. At least I hope so. I think Khawaja will be better for his experience and having Starc and O'keefe, lengthens our tail significantly
Rob JM
Guest
I'm pretty sure he played in the sri lanka tour where he averaged less than the marsh that cant bat!
Mr Bean
Guest
All his runs were scored in Australian conditions, he was awful in Sri Lanka, I can't see him doing any better in India.
baz
Guest
Actually putting extra pressure on the batsmen at the other end is part of the team game to think your game doesn't impact the player at the other end it does. When Warner applies pressure at the other end it can reduce the bowlers confidence and make it easier for the player at the other end. Rotation of strike is something he has to work on. Allowing bowlers to bowl to someone at one end for 6 balls regularly at a time is not great. However renshaw is doing well and plus he's new so he's got plenty of time to develop his game. Rob for a slogger he hits alot of good shots in the middle of the bat. He does use a bat which i think is too big but that's upto the regulations of the game to change it. It is currently legal so therefore ok. It's not like everyone else can't use that same bat.
Amrit
Roar Guru
Sounds good, Ronan, same stuff was expected from Dean Elgar and Stiaan Van Zyl, didn't happen. If Renshaw opens every innings in India, his average is doomed, and would perhaps be tempted to sign a Kolpak, like Van Zyl
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
"Nein comms" That made me giggle :) There might as well be no comms on nine sometimes
rock
Guest
Yeah, let's drop our second highest scoring batsmen in the past year - logical......................
AlanC
Guest
Props Albo, the majority of commenters simply disappear after putting their foot in it and you sure weren't the only poster knocking him.
Mr Bean
Guest
Marsh can play spin Khawaja can't, I think the answer is pretty easy
Armchair Expert
Guest
Fleming was apparently a better batsman than Steve Waugh, so happy days.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Yes Ryan, that cancelled Bangladesh tour may of been his one shot deal.