Six years after Matthew Renshaw batted and batted against Pakistan the big Queenslander is back.
Out of the blue, the left-hander, who looked like he had the world at his feet when he peeled off a marvellous 184 against Pakistan in the New Year’s Test, is set to make his comeback to Test cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Surprising, yes. Proactive, indeed.
With David Warner and Usman Khawaja both 36, Australian selectors should be establishing whom the next cab off the rank is regarding their openers.
A glance overseas reiterates the importance of having a reliable opener capable of batting long periods, with England and South Africa both struggling to find a man at the top to replace the likes of Alastair Cook and Graeme Smith respectively.
Back in Australia, a number of players are starting to emerge at state level.
CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial to watch cricket on KAYO
Will Pucovski, of course, remains a standout but his future is clouded, with concussions derailing one of the most exciting careers since Ricky Ponting emerged out of Launceston.
Matt Renshaw. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Marcus Harris remains part of the wider Australian set-up. But at 30, the Victorian’s first-class average of 39.49 probably reflects where his Test average hovers (25.29).
When Matthew Hayden was dropped, the Queenslander dominated Sheffield Shield cricket year in and year out. Ditto Darren Lehmann, Matthew Elliott and Greg Blewett.
Others like Jimmy Maher and Michael Di Venuto didn’t even get a look in, while Stuart Law scored a half-century and wasn’t sighted again.
Harris needs to bang the door down to be given another go in the same manner that Simon Katich and Chris Rogers did.
Tim Ward and Henry Hunt have shown glimpses of what they are capable of with first-class centuries. Both are in their mid-20s but neither average over 39, with Ward on 38.92 across 15 first-class matches while South Australian Hunt is at 35.77.
That doesn’t necessarily rule them out. After all, Marnus Labuschagne’s first-class average was in the low 30s before he was given a go. But Labuschagne had a technique that was solid; a low back lift and still head.
In Renshaw, Australian cricket has a man with the fundamentals of the game in place. Two months shy of his 27th birthday, history suggests Renshaw is coming into his prime.
He leaves the ball better than most and he has the ability to bat long periods of time. His huge century during the 2017 New Year’s Test was one that had many pundits expecting greatness.
But, as was the case of Hayden and Justin Langer who rose to the summit of the game after a number of false starts, openers often follow unique paths to the top.
Importantly, too, Renshaw has scored runs in India. In his first two Tests in the subcontinent in 2017 he made a pair of 60s. One Test later he scored 45.
Those aren’t earth-shattering numbers, but compared to most Australian batters, including David Warner who averages 24.25 in India, Renshaw’s average of 29 from four Tests doesn’t tell the full story.
Renshaw will likely bat in the middle-order for Australia upon his return. He did so successfully for Queensland during the 2020-21 season, where he made 500 runs at 62.50.
The ability to bat throughout the order is another feather in Renshaw’s cap. One criticism of Renshaw was that he struggled to have different gears to his batting.
It’s understood Warner was left frustrated at times by Renshaw’s strike-rate, which is 42.48. But, according to Pat Cummins, Twenty20 cricket has helped expand the left-hander’s game.
“He’s become a new father as well in the last few weeks, which makes you grow up pretty quickly,” Cummins said of Renshaw, who moved back to the top of the order for Queensland this season.
Matt Renshaw. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
“It’s a common trend. It always has been. Later into your twenties you’re a better batter than when you were starting out.
“Credit to him, he got his chance to debut in his early 20s which is a fantastic effort, he’s gone away and scored plenty of runs – you just learn your game better, you learn what works for you.
“Even T20 – the introduction of reverse sweeps and how to play spin differently. He just looks like he’s got more tools in his armoury than he did five or six years ago.”
By introducing Renshaw back into the Test side, Australian selectors, headed by chairman George Bailey, are showing a proactiveness that has defined their tenures.
With the series wrapped up against the Proteas, a challenging year of Test cricket ahead, with tours of India and England to come, and aging openers, Renshaw’s selection was by no means the obvious one but could prove to be the right one moving forward.
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
The only surprise with Renshaw re-joining the team is the timing. Of course he will be going to India and England. This was never in doubt. The investment in him means that Harris is not in the calculations. Should Warner retire, Renshaw moves straight to that slot. Those claiming that having Harris as 12th man is evidence of him being preferred are way off the mark.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Colin, the answer to your question is simple and it's the same for all first class cricketers around Australia. Move to NSW. Seriously though, I do not understand the inclusion of Renshaw in this test. Nothing wrong with him but we have now gone in with 2 quicks, 2 spinners and a bunch of part timers. Probably wont matter but the issue for me is that Hazelwood is coming off a very interrupted preparation after suffering the reoccurrence of an injury. If we'd had a third quick bowler in there, I wouldn't have a problem with Hazelwood coming back. It looks like the Australian selectors have gone in with a side that wont lose the test rather than a side that will win it.
SammyC1
Roar Rookie
Christy your dislike for Harris is reflected in this article and lacks absolute credibility. Harris has knocked the door down Year after year as an opener in shield and county cricket. You bring up first class averages but Harris averages MORE than renshaw in first class cricket. In fact Renshaw was dropped from his state side when Harris is one of the best performers and first picked in his state side. Renshaw may be picked for India but that will be as a backup middle order bat. Harris is the first cab off the rank as an opener. Asking him to knock the door down with runs seems to me like you haven’t been paying attention to state or county cricket and you just don’t like the fellow to be honest.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Somewhat confusing assessment. Whilst there is a limited reference to Harris, the fact is Harris is preferred to Renshaw as the next opener at the moment given Harris, not Renshaw, has been in the squad all summer (and still is). Renshaw has come in as a middle order replacement. So when the author says "Harris needs to bang the door down to be given another go in the same manner that Simon Katich and Chris Rogers did" - again, Harris has already been chosen as next opening cab off the rank - at least in the present. And no, Harris won't need to bang the door down, because cricket scheduling no longer works that way. Harris will go to India in the touring squad and will not play FC again this summer. His lack of matches won't hamper his potential selection this coming winter. It should also be noted that both Harris and Renshaw had similar outputs in June's tour of Sri Lanka and all FC matches for 2022 were completed before the first Test of the summer - and the back of all of that, Harris was selected in the squad ahead of Renshaw, and there has been no further FC innings from either since then. So not quite sure where this article gets its premise for the assumptions being made about the selectors' future intentions.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
I agree with comments about Renshaw and Pucovski but I can’t agree with dropping our best performing bowler, Scott Boland. That is manifestly unfair and goes against the philosophy of selecting the best performing cricketers. Boland is not the first to be unfairly dropped, Brad Hodge was dropped with a test average of 55.88. What does a Victorian have to do to maintain their test place???
jameswm
Roar Guru
Smith is 33. I think Pucovski might be a better long term replacement there (health permitting), but I would be happy to see him and Renshaw opening as Warner and Khawaja leave. Both are 36. Ussie had that purple patch 6-24 months ago, but both are hitting the decline. I think for anyone it happens between 35-37 years. You can't go beyond 37 and stay at that level. Renshaw is as good a chance as anyone to go well opening. And Head is 29, Carey 31 and Green young. I don't think you really look more than 2 years into the future, so much can change, unless you get a Ponting type come along. Bancroft is having a decent season too, he's 30. With Warner and Khawaja though, I'd rather they go sooner rather than later. 200 or not, I am not confident about Warner scoring runs in India or England (or Khawaja in India), and we should take backups. And not Marcus Harris. Happy for Renshaw to go as the backup batsman actually. And FWIW Marnus is 28, so we do have our 3-5-6-7 set for 4 years, and no.4 for 2-3 years too. The quicks are good, we need the 2nd spinner sorted. Garry is 35. Right now we need someone to spin it the other way ideally, but maybe the young NSwelshman is the best option going forward - we shall see.