Aussie legend bats for Matt

Above: Matt Renshaw in action for Toombul in the KFC T20 Max last month.

Former Albany Creek Hawks batsman Matt Renshaw is in selectors’ sights for the Ashes, according to an Australian cricket legend.

Renshaw started the Sheffield Shield season with 138 against Tasmania, following scores of 80, 106 and 62 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in July.

That has earned the 29-year-old Queensland Bulls star a place in Australia’s One Day International squad to face India, starting on Sunday.

But Greg Chappell, who captained Australia in 48 Tests, sees the one-day call-up as a guide to who may open with Usman Khawaja against England next month.

As debate has rages over who will open for Australia, Chappell tackled the historical importance and selectors' options in his ESPNCricinfo column. 

Impeccible timing

Chappell questions Sam Konstas not being selected for the Sri Lanka tour and puts forward one-day skipper Mitch Marsh as a "left-field" option.

But Chappell, who scored 7110 Test runs at an average of 53.6 in 87 Tests, says: “Renshaw's timing has been impeccable," 

“He has made runs at the right time; and in batting, as is well known, timing is everything.

“The fact that he has been included in the ODI squad for the series against India suggests that he is in mind as Khawaja's partner for Perth.

“As a former selector, I would support that decision.”

Chappell says as openers for Queensland, Renshaw and Khawaja would be “safe hands” for the vital task of blunting England’s pace attack.

“Renshaw is a specialist opener with a connection to Khawaja,” Chappell writes on Cricinfo.

“The two are domestic opening partners and the established synergy between them is of the sort that has historically been a hallmark of the best Ashes opening pairs.

“This weighs heavily in Renshaw's favour.”

Though born in the UK, Renshaw came to Australia at the age of 10 and scored 31 not out in his first match for Albany Creek Hawks Under 11s in February 2007.

Early promotion

The Albany Creek resident soon moved up several age groups before joining Toombul and then making his Queensland debut in 2015 and Australia debut in 2016.

By taking the field against South Africa in Adelaide, Renshaw became the first Albany Creek Hawks player to make the Australian Test side.

Renshaw’s maiden Test hundred came with 184 against Pakistan in 2017. Renshaw was recalled to the Test team in 2018 and again in 2023.

He faced South Africa and India in three Tests before joining the Australian squad which retained the Ashes in a highly-charged series in England.

Australia’s ODI Series against India starts in Perth on Sunday before going on to Adelaide (October 23) and Sydney (October 25).