Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has backed Matt Renshaw as the new Test opener for Australia. Matthew Hayden feels that Matt Renshaw has the age factor behind him and it will be a good idea to groom a young batsman.
David Warner retired from Test cricket after the recent Test series between Australia and Pakistan. After his retirement, Australia needs a powerful back-up as an opener in Tests. Three players have come to the forefront: Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris.
However, it remains to be seen who will take David Warner’s place in the Test side. Cricket Australia will soon announce the squad for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies. The AUS vs WI Test series will witness two matches starting January 17.
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Matthew Hayden backs Matt Renshaw as Australia Test opener
During a conversation with ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’, Australian batting legend Matthew Hayden backed Math Renshaw as the new Test opener for Australia.
“David Warner has expressed his opinion about Marcus Harris and Ricky Ponting has expressed his opinion to (Cameron) Bancroft. “I feel like a left-handed opener in Renshaw is that person who has age on his side.”
“He may not have Bancroft’s performances in first-class cricket, but in many ways I feel he has shown what he can potentially do and he has that longevity. With a banker like Khawaja, given the form, maybe it’s time to look to the future and groom that individual,” Matthew Hayden said.
Hayden also pointed out that Matt Renshaw gives a youthful edge and would prefer to groom a young player in the Tests.
“It’s more than anything an intuition. Bancroft and Harris are a little older and one could argue a little more wisely, but Renshaw gives you that youthful edge and you’ll soon have two new starters. “I’d rather they blood one of them now,” Hayden added.
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Renshaw is a 27-year-old batsman with an experience of 14 Tests since 2016. He averages 29.32 with 1 century and 3 fifties in 24 innings. Marcus Harris averages 25.29 in 26 innings with 3 half-centuries and has reached the age of 31.
Cameron Bancroft also shares the same age and accounts for 446 runs in 18 innings at an average of 26+. Therefore, if we look at the statistics, Renshaw has a superior advantage. However, the rest of the two have shown consistent form of late.
Not going to happen in my opinion: Matthew Hayden on Steve Smith taking the inaugural spot
There are also rumors that Steve Smith will fill the inaugural role after David Warner’s dismissal. Smith is a regular member of the Test team and plays in a one-down position. However, Matthew Hayden feels captain Pat Cummins will not go ahead with that idea.
“In my opinion, it’s just not going to happen. He has brought so much respect into the game that we should all listen to what he has to say, but I equally believe that is not the way the management of the Australian cricket team will act. “It certainly doesn’t seem like the path Pat will take.”
“I just can’t see how strategically that (Smith opening) is going to work for Cricket Australia. They’ll need someone more concrete than that. When we look at the success of this test team over the last two years, we see that it has been built on a very solid foundation,” Hayden concluded.
Meanwhile, Australia won the recent Test series against Pakistan 3-0 after crushing them in all three games. David Warner received a warm farewell after the final test in Sydney. The Australians will now host the West Indies for a Test, ODI and T20I series at home.
