Matt Renshaw scored a superb first Test century in more than nine years, a career-best 190 from 397 balls, to put Australia in control of the first Test against South Africa in Durban. Australia were all out for 390 on day one, and South Africa were 27-1 at the close, with Aiden Markram unbeaten on 15.
After much talk about the issues among their ageing top order, Renshaw ground out his innings and emphatically pushed his case to be part of Australia’s future. He had dragged Australia from 124-6 to 390 all out, and the knock was a statement from a left-hander whose international career has been stop-start.
Renshaw, who is 30, was born in Middlesbrough and was a childhood friend of England captain Joe Root. Their fathers played together in English club cricket. His parents left the UK for New Zealand and then Australia when he was seven.
A statement innings
Renshaw showed impeccable patience and resilience, leaving or defending almost every delivery that deserved it. Former Australia batter Simon Katich praised him on SEN Radio.
“I like him as a player,” Katich said. “When he first came in, I liked him as a player, even though others thought he was too defensive.
“I think that is what this team has needed and been crying out for.”
Renshaw scored 184 in his fourth Test, against Pakistan in January 2017, after being handed his debut aged 20. He averaged 19.41 across 10 Tests over two spells before being recalled earlier this year.
“A few years out of the team, I had the opportunity in 2023, you think [you’re] never going to get the opportunity again,” Renshaw said.
“When I hit the ball [to go to his hundred] I was screaming at it ‘go, go, go’.
“It hit me all at once. It was pretty special.”
Against South Africa, he hit only three boundaries on day one. He attacked just 14.2% of deliveries while making his first 50 runs, the lowest rate of any Australia top-order batter. The innings continued in a throwback style on day two, as he left well and mostly scored square or behind the wicket.
He extended his partnership with captain Pat Cummins in the morning session to 86, then controlled a stand of 134 with number 10 Nathan Lyon. He took the strike when needed, protecting Lyon from the pace of Anrich Nortje, and grew more aggressive as the partnership developed, adding boundaries and frustrating South Africa’s bowlers. He added 21 more with number 11 Josh Hazlewood before falling in the first over after tea.
Does Renshaw’s knock solve Australia’s top-order dilemma?
Renshaw’s innings has left Australia well placed to push for victory. Opener Ryan Rickelton’s three-ball duck, in the 8.4 overs South Africa faced before bad light stopped play, was a further setback for the visitors. The pitch flattened out on day two but is expected to take turn later in the Test.
The series is a repeat of last year’s World Test Championship final, which South Africa won. It is also the third of a possible 21 Tests for Australia before the end of the Ashes next summer. Renshaw has surely secured his immediate future, but his knock does not answer every question about the make-up of the side.
When he was recalled in August, he replaced Jake Weatherald as opener. He moved down to number five for this Test when Cameron Green was ruled out. Nic Maddinson opened alongside Travis Head, giving Australia an 11th different opening partnership since the retirement of David Warner. Maddinson made a 33-ball duck on day one.
With Green, the regular number five, expected to return, one solution is to move Renshaw back up the order to reunite him with Head. Head made the surprise switch to opener to impressive effect in the Ashes, scoring centuries against England in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney. He has shown vulnerability since, however, failing to pass 22 in his four innings.
Alternatively, Renshaw could stay in the middle order and Green could return in place of all-rounder Beau Webster. That would leave Australia’s search for a settled opening pair unresolved.
“No idea,” Renshaw said of the decision ahead. “That’s well above my pay grade.
“Whatever is the best for the team is the one for me. I am not too fussed.”
