Opinion
Australia’s batting order at the start of the summer is a hot topic of conversation, no matter whether it’s between friends, pundits or even the selectors.
This level of heat and scrutiny only multiplies when it becomes the Ashes.
With the Ashes only a day away, the Australian selectors have confirmed their team for the first Test on the 8th of December. But there are still potential question marks over some spots in the team.
One of these being an opening partner to firebrand batter David Warner.
For the first Test against England, Victorian batter Marcus Harris has been confirmed as Australia’s other opener. Should he fail to capitalise on this opportunity, there are a few other candidates circling for his spot.
The obvious option for who is next in line would be 23-year-old generational talent, Will Pucovski. But with Pucovski struggling with consistent concussion injuries, Australia might have to look elsewhere for the solution.
This opens the door for an often-forgotten batter from Queensland, Matthew Renshaw.
The talented left hander has found his form in Queensland’s middle order scoring centuries in both the Sheffield Shield and Marsh One Day Cup tournaments.
But Renshaw’s icy resolve, can more than hold his own at the top of the order as he proved in 2017, when he scored a dominant 184 against Pakistan at the SCG.
The innings lasted nearly seven hours as he showed the cricketing world his ability to play like a traditional opening bat. Cool, calm, and collected.
This defensive element to Renshaw’s game would pair well with Warner’s fiery attacking game style, as would the fact that they are a right-hand left-hand duo. Providing Australia with a fire and ice combination at the top of the order.
A new strength that Renshaw has added to his arsenal, is his willingness to attack the bowler and quickly pile on runs. This skill was demonstrated in November when Renshaw monstered five sixes on his way to an unbeaten 156, helping Queensland defeat South Australia in the Marsh One Day Cup.
And while his batting average over 11 Tests is only 33.47 per innings, his ability to convert his scores into centuries is a convincing aspect to his game as he has hit 13/100’s to 12/50’s in first class cricket.
While Renshaw hasn’t played for Australia since 2018, however he is still only 25 years of age and has amassed more experience in first class and international cricket than other cricketers in his age bracket.
These stats simply continue to strengthen his case to be an important part of the Australian men’s cricket team’s future, in particularly, this summer’s Ashes.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
David Lord has been remembered as an icon of Australian sports journalism following his death, aged 84. The renowned writer and broadcaster was an…
Sign the man up for a contract next season!
RCB have suffered a massive HEAD-ACHE after Travis Head smashed the fastest century by an SRH player in just 39 balls, as they amassed…
A brutal century by Travis Head has blasted Sunrisers Hyderabad back into the Indian Premier League play-off places in another match for bowlers to…
The Indian veteran came to the crease inside the final over before casually despatching three balls over the rope to get Chennai over the…
With only two wickets in four games leading into the game, the Aussie paceman finished with 3/28 as his Knight Riders recorded an eight-wicket…
