Matt Renshaw survives net session against Aussie quicks

First came line and length – then fire and brimstone.

Out-of-sorts Test opener Matt Renshaw has survived a net session from hell in Brisbane, facing all four Australian quicks in a strong indication he will be retained for next week’s Ashes opener.

The Queensland left-hander might be short on runs but he stood tall in on Wednesday’s hour-long session at Allan Border Field, observed by national coach and selector Darren Lehmann.

First, Renshaw endured the nagging accuracy of Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird.

Then came the real test.

Speedsters Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins unleashed in the nets, peppering Renshaw with short balls in a harrowing stint.

A smiling Starc could be seen putting his arm around a drained Renshaw to congratulate the battling Bulls’ opener after the searching session.

Renshaw also chatted with Cricket Australia high performance manager Pat Howard at the nets in a sign he might still be retained for the Ashes opener starting on November 23 at the Gabba.

All four quicks were looking for a victim after holding back in Monday’s session when they were forced to take turns bowling at each other in the Brisbane nets.

The quartet have been rested from Sheffield Shield action this week and are training in Brisbane ahead of the first Ashes Test.

Queensland development players Angus Lovell and Nathan McSweeney – both 18 – also drew the short straw on Wednesday to face the fired up Test quicks.

“At one stage, I thought I was going to die,” McSweeney said.

Renshaw needed to do something to regain some touch after a double failure in Queensland’s Shield clash with NSW, metres away at Allan Border Field, left him with just 70 first-class runs this season at 11.66.

Pressure looks set to mount on Renshaw ahead of the Ashes with ex-Test opener Chris Rogers saying he won’t be surprised if the Queensland is dropped.

But Bulls coach Wade Seccombe said Renshaw was in a good place before the Ashes Test team is named on Friday.

“It’s probably hard for him to stay away from it (Test speculation) – it will be a testament to his character to how he responds to it,” he said.

“(But) he is very positive around the dressing room.

“He’s loud, he’s young and boisterous and that hasn’t changed in the good or bad times.

“I am really comfortable with where he is at in his behaviour.”

It is believed selectors will show faith in Renshaw for the Ashes opener with in-form Western Australian Cameron Bancroft a chance to make his Test debut at No.6 at the Gabba.