Timing is everything in cricket – on the field and off it, particularly when it comes to selections.
For Matt Renshaw, the worst thing that happened to his chances of re-establishing his place in the Australian team long term was getting recalled at the wrong time, twice.
Renshaw is now back in the mix to replace David Warner for the June tour to England where the Australians will attempt to claim the World Test Championship trophy by beating India in the final before regaining the Ashes urn against a Bazball-inspired host nation.
The 27-year-old Queenslander showed he is a class above the second tier with a first-innings 112 and quick-fire 78 in Australia A’s tour game against their New Zealand counterparts in Lincoln.
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But he is still yet to prove he can be a consistent performer at Test level.
Matthew Renshaw. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
After being thrown in at the deep end as a 20-year-old when Australia were in the midst of a home series shellacking at the hands of South Africa in 2016, he averaged 63 in his first four Tests, highlighted by a superb 184 against Pakistan in Sydney.
But the turning wickets of India and Bangladesh brought him undone and he was dropped less than a year after receiving his first baggy green cap.
His first recall was a hiding to nothing – he was flown into South Africa to join the squad when Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith had been suspended for the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
He and opening partner Joe Burns were still feeling the after-effects of jetlag when they stepped onto the field at The Wanderers in Johannesburg and after failing in both innings, Renshaw’s form went into a tailspin to the point where he was dropped by Queensland.
His second Test recall – after rebuilding his career at Sheffield Shield level, turned out to be another case of bad timing.
He was surprisingly included at No.6 for the New Year’s Test in Sydney but barely got started before rain brought Australia’s innings to a close and then he was mistakenly retained for a middle-order berth in India ahead of Travis Head because of the South Australian left-hander’s poor record against spin.
Had the selectors forgotten about Renshaw’s 232 runs at 29 on the previous tour of India and 76 at 19 in Bangladesh?
And despite briefly shining in the middle order for Queensland, he’s an opener through and through.
His even temperament, strength against pace and struggles with spin all add up to someone who should be at the top of the order, never in the middle, particularly when confronted with India’s world-class spinners on turning tracks.
Four runs from three innings in India will be the eternal reminder of that.
Back at the top of the order for Australia A, he’s shown that’s where he belongs but it would still be a gamble for the national selectors to pick him alongside Usman Khawaja for the monumental matches on the horizon.
Cameron Bancroft has also mounted a strong case for the role after piling on 945 runs, including four tons, at 59.06 for the all-conquering Western Australia, nearly 300 clear of the next-best rungetter.
Cameron Bancroft. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
Warner’s form has been not up to scratch for the past three years but the selectors still seem reluctant to tap him on the shoulder despite the 36-year-old looking all at sea in India before a fractured elbow ended his series midway through the second Test.
He did little in the one ODI on the last day of the Indian tour to move the needle either way about whether he should be retained in the Test side with a scratchy 23 off 31 after being relegated to No.4, just the second time he hasn’t opened in his 142-game career and the first since 2015.
Warner is now leading the Delhi Capitals in the IPL which runs until the end of next month, just before the tour squad assembles in England, which is hardly the ideal preparation for a tour where he has a mediocre record by his otherwise high career standards of 651 runs from 13 Tests at 26.04 with no centuries.
Head is the only other realistic option to partner Khawaja after filling in for the final five innings in India. He played some crucial knocks but coach Andrew McDonald and the player himself both said they saw it as a stopgap role and he’s all but certain to slot in at No.5 in England.
Victorian opener Marcus Harris is a potential candidate but a summer of 601 runs at 37.56 in the Shield hardly amounts to banging down the proverbial selection door.
Renshaw’s dominant display in New Zealand gets extra credit than the standard A level game given the match was played with a Dukes ball in conditions similar to those that will confront Australia when they head to England.
The Australian camp reiterated they were using a horses for courses selection policy in India by bringing in Peter Handscomb, Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann.
David Warner walks off after he was dismissed by Mohammed Shami. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
They definitely backed the wrong horse in Renshaw at the start of that series but the greener pastures of England are more typical of the course he thrives on after several seasons plundering runs at the seam-friendly Gabba.
Despite Renshaw smashing 11 fours and two sixes in the second dig to set up a declaration for the Aussie A side, the locals chased down the target of 365 runs on the final day with three wickets to spare.
South Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson’s hopes of impressing the selectors for an unlikely ticket to England dwindled on the final day.
The 27-year-old, who has come out of nowhere after overcoming a string of debilitating ankle injuries to take 16 wickets in his opening three first-class outings, continued his purple patch with 4-53 in the first innings but couldn’t make a breakthrough in 16 overs in the second innings.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
they’ll never drop Lyon he’s like warner bailey mate and helped get mcdonald more power . that said Lyon can be an asset at a few grounds in uk and clearly in 2019 was spanked for runs at a few others which cost Australia big time . they have to watch baz ball getting on top of Lyon in England he can go for runs and middle order can flourish against him depends on conditions and the ground though
Craig
Roar Rookie
We are on the same page on bowling too Pierro, mostly anyway. As we will be having an extended squad to cover six Tests they will pick a few bowlers that otherwise may have been better off debuting next summer as you say. I have added Johnson as a like for like lefty to Starc who like all the quicks will be rotated as some stage. Will CA think the same way as I on Johnson? Lineup: Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Green, Morris, Boland Neser/Johnson, Lyon, Murphy. The skipper, Hazlewood, Green and Boland will be the ideal attack if we have a typical green moist Pommie deck while the added speed of Morris, Starc and Johnson will be for the fast flat tracks Stokes wants. Neser can fit into both categories, but doubt he will get any more than a single match.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Lance Morris must be in squad and they must think seriously about whether to play him or starc. I’m not sure if Richardson would be fit enough but could be a one test wonder whilst Hazelwood is rested . obviously Boland should go if line and length pitches let alone accurate work horse. I’d probably take todd Murphy he may not be used but I’d take him to develop him further they will go to Lyon every time over there but he can get clonked and a match can be taken away from Australia on decks where Lyon and Starc get hit for alot of runs. last time Lyon got smacked at lords last day quickly putting Aussie in bother although Paine kept bowling him and also at headingly he got smacked last innings . Aussie selectors need to carefully assess conditions at every ground and would be wise to study where Lyon and Starc got smacked in previous tests there and where they flourished as there are grounds that suit. I think grounds like the oval and headingly can use all rounders . I loathe to say it but the one guy who has a great record at a few grounds in England is mitchell marsh he performed very very well back end of last ashes there depends on the pitch though and wouldn’t select him outside of the ashes at a few grounds. Aaron Hardie gets a mention but difference is we have Cameron green in there for this series so these are squad members I’m talking about. Seems to be a lot of young candidates bowling well in Australia but neser may also deserve a spot for all round reliability with bat and ball just depends on the pitches. I know less about Spencer Johnson my gut feel is outside of lance Morris the other young pace makers may be best off debuting in Australia next summer against weaker opposition at home . These selectors are slow to change though. we are on the same page with batting for most part Craig ! just can’t believe they are taking warner the only way he could flourish is baz ball pitches but surely Bancroft gets the nod over him if so.
Craig
Roar Rookie
We are on the same page Pierro. Yes Warner, Harris, Khawaja all had shockers in 2019, with Head at least posting a 50. Reckon tho, Ussie has been the biggest improver on all surfaces since and will take his chances this time, regardless of the type of track. I like Ussie/Renshaw, Marnus, Smith, Green, Head if the ECB is bluffing about their 'bazball' decks. If not Marnus and Head to open with Ussie and Renners down the order. With the World Test Champs final also to be played prior to the Ashes, CA will cover all bases by picking an extended batting and bowling attack. So who do you have in the full squad other than Handscomb, Harris and Bancroft all of whom will be considered specially if they can pile on county runs in the next two months. As for the attack I'd like to see Spencer Johnson added to the squad after all CA has already fast tracked him so they rate him. I think express man and the standing Bradman Young Cricketer, Lance Morris will be in the squad too.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Craig your spot on when you think about 2019 and I went to the lords and Manchester tests for several days so remember it well it was perpetually Smith in very early due to failed openers then labsuchange virtually was an opener and did so well. Both excelled on English decks whilst the rest of them give or take an innings flunked terribly . Cummins and Hazelwood we’re averaging 16 and 18 most of the serious m the four of them were incredible. No doubt in my mind labsuchange can open in England if they are trying to put a square in a round hole . khawaja Bancroft and head seem much improved since 2019 but the bowling pitch and dukes ball really got to them last tour so am hoping for improvement . I actually think renshaw deserves his opening chance in England it’s not easy to open there but he has the county form last year and good recent NZ knocks off the back of a great Sheffield shield year opening . can’t take the India spin fest against the middle order seriously . I just wander if khawaja should also drop down order a tad in England but he’s had some great form but early on he struggled in 2019 opening or first drop. I doubt they will do it but labsuchange and renshaw could open smith next then khawaja green head in that order. this will no doubt cause uproar but judging by county form and last English ashes in 2019 it would suit the Aussie side whilst in England on your but not after that tour. I doubt they will do it and as I said khawaja head have been in great form but just not with dukes ball on line and length and swing pitches so once again they will need to adapt there game . Bancroft then Harris Whitman are back up. watching county form for next month may sway some of my thinking but Aussie shield form doesn’t always stack up in last 19 plus years in England where batting has new. a disaster off the back of big shield runs and predictions
craig watson
Roar Rookie
If for some reason Marnus wont bat first drop this Ashes then we have worthy replacement in one Steven Peter Devereux Smith. Smith was first drop during his golden years between 2014- 2018 when he dug us out of huge holes time and again. From memory he also batted there in 2019 Ashes before Marnus even made his first Test as his concussion sub. Batted there and as per usual pulled us out of difficult positions. His double 140 per innings at Edgbaston in the series opener was a sign of what was to come, a performance some former players and cricket historians say was the best in an Ashes by a single batsmen in history. Who can argue.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Averaging 180 in the county competition while Bancroft is averaging 22.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He’s not in the park. Take him from roads like Junction Oval and he’s nothing. Even Leistershire’s #9 batsman scored over 100 runs without getting out. Nothing special about batting in county cricket.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Handscomb is averaging more than Bancroft in Shield, and County cricket. Therefore Handscomb is in better form. OK, so county cricket is better than the Shield but worse than Perth grade cricket?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Nup. Bancroft is in better form now. I didn’t say county cricket was weaker than Shield cricket; county cricket is weaker than Perth grade cricket.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Dear Opeo, don't bother talking to Don. It's not impossible to overcome him in an argument it's just not worth it
Dingo
Roar Rookie
Warner is yesterday's news. CA made the mistake of not putting Ussie in for the first test in India.....and look how he went there after. Will they make a similar mistake and stick with Warner in the first test in England. Probably. They need to get rid of Warner now. Get Renshaw in....he is in form. Bancroft has too much baggage now, England will mess with his head.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
We have been over this. My criticism was of the comment “Bancroft’s form is much more recent than Handscomb’s. We all saw what happened to Peter once India worked him out…” Handscomb finished the India tour with two poor matches. Therefore, we need only to look at Bancroft’s two most recent matches to determine his form. Bancroft had done little in his two most recent matches, therefore he is out of form. Again, you missed the humour. If county cricket is worse than Perth grade cricket why could Bancroft not average more than 25 in the last county season he played? You do realise that just bashing county cricket makes Bancroft look worse, not better, right? Also, and it is an entirely separate conversation, is there any evidence that county cricket is any weaker than Shield cricket. County cricket has Muhammad Abbas, Kyle Abbott, Ollie Robinson, just to name a few players that are not in the Shield. These are bowlers that average low 20s with the ball against Australia, and Pujara averages 50 with bat against us. Can you imagine what these guys would do to NSW, SA, or Tasmania?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The difference is that you claim 980 run Bancroft is out of form, while praising a performance in county cricket. You seem unaware that English county cricket is weaker than Perth grade cricket.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Nah, if you did not understand the hilarity of pointing out that Handscomb recently averaged 180 in a match after you mentioned Bancroft averaging 60 in a match where he scored 22 and 39 not out, that is on you.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You don't quite get the dynamics of "making fun". If you have to explain it, you don't have the skills. Re-read my response and you'll better understand how to do it.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
So I was making fun of you talking about a player’s ‘average’ from a single match with a not out innings, but you missed that. Regarding what you said, he literally played in the most recent test match, played reasonably well in the most recent test series, has a higher test, and first class averages, and higher Shield, and County, averages every year for the last three years, than a guy that you are proposing be in the team. If Smith, Head, or maybe even Green get injured, Handscomb is in.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Not in the conversation. His career's done at test level.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Fingers crossed that you're right. I can't see him or any of the other fast bowlers (aside from Cummins) playing every test, so the question is if the best approach is playing blocks of tests or every second test or so. Not sure what would work better in terms of regaining rhythm while reducing stress on injured body parts.
Craig
Roar Rookie
Try Renshaw’s 140 today in same bowler friendly conditions as Hardie batted. Both were solid and timely knocks and will give selectors some hard thinking to do before they name the Ashes squad. Personally, now Hardie is back in form, I’d have both on the plane to England in June