How Renshaw’s long-awaited ODI call-up could thrust him into Ashes debate

10 hours ago 3

It could be argued that Matthew Renshaw’s rise to Australia’s one-day squad was overdue.

After four years on the domestic scene with an average of about 60 for Queensland, the 29-year-old appeared to have been pigeonholed as a long-format specialist, having worn the Baggy Green in 14 Tests.

He is now, however, on the cusp of earning his maiden one-day international cap in the three-match series with India, beginning in Perth on October 19, with star batsman Travis Head gushing, “it’s hard to believe Matt Renshaw hasn’t played for Australia in the short format”.

Can Matthew Renshaw force his way into the Ashes conversation?

Succeed in the series, and the middling start to the season from incumbent Test opener Sam Konstas – whose 53 for New South Wales followed just 18 runs from his three innings – could pave the way for Renshaw to stake a claim for an Ashes berth.

While fellow Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne looms as a favourite to reclaim his Test place – bringing up his second Sheffield Shield century of the summer on Thursday after twin tons in the one-day format – Renshaw’s Shield clash for the summer featured a brilliant 128 at the top of the order.

His days of being viewed as a slow-scoring batsman have long been cast aside, with Queensland and Australia teammate Xavier Bartlett revealing an interstate Big Bash move proved the catalyst for his career’s second chapter.

Between his return to the Heat ahead of the 2022-23 summer and the start of this season, Renshaw has batted at a strike rate of 100.15 in one-day cricket and 142.77 in T20s.

That ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over could be the perfect foil to Australian opener, Usman Khawaja, who has produced his best when paired with a more aggressive partner.

“Renners is one of the most talented batters I’ve played with. The way he goes about his game, especially over the last couple of years, is really positive – he takes the game on,” Bartlett told this masthead.

“I think he was always so talented, but when he went down to the Adelaide Strikers and had that stint there, he came back for the Brisbane Heat and went into that middle-order role. He’s really taken that chance and flourished.

“He’s quite intimidating – he’s a big frame who hits the ball hard – but he also has that nice touch. Being an opening batter in the longer form of the game, he can get through those tough moments and really build an innings.

“He knows when to switch gears.”

While Renshaw will make his case for a hopeful Test comeback through the ODI squad, Labuschagne appears destined to return to the fold in time to face the old English enemy.

The 31-year-old was axed for the West Indies tour after being trialled as an opener in the World Test Championship Final, which followed a lean period in which he had averaged 30.98 and scored one century since the start of 2023.

But with two one-day and two Shield centuries already this summer, his case is growing palpable, having garnered a recall into the ODI squad after Cameron Green was ruled out through injury.

Where he fits in is the question, given that he has plied his trade at No.3.

If Australian selectors opt to go for a specialist opener, such as Renshaw or Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald, it could spell danger for allrounder Beau Webster, who is yet to put a foot wrong in Test cricket, having taken eight wickets while averaging 34.63, with three half-centuries from seven appearances.

But after backing up his 160 against Tasmania with a free-flowing 159 against South Australia on Thursday – bringing up his century in 129 deliveries – the Labuschagne of old seems to have returned.

Marnus Labuschagne has started the summer as Australia’s most in-form batsman.

The Queensland skipper revealed he was back playing with his instincts, and while he had frequently spoken with Australian superstar Steve Smith, the pair had not discussed his batting.

“What I’ve learnt from Steve over my time is his ability to mould his technique and assess conditions … while other people try and do the assessing of conditions but then play with their technique,” Labuschagne said.

“I’ve learnt so much. At different times, my learning was making sure you keep calm and don’t drag that last bit of your innings over into the first part of your [next] innings.”

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