Queensland cricketer Matt Renshaw has passionately defended his teammate Usman Khawaja, labelling him one of the best batters Australia has ever produced, despite mounting pressure for the 38-year-old to be dropped from the Test side.
Renshaw's Resounding Endorsement
Fresh from scoring a match-winning century for the Bulls against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, Renshaw has thrown his considerable support behind the veteran opener. He publicly backed Khawaja to withstand England's formidable pace attack and silence the critics calling for his retirement.
'He's got an average over 40 in Test cricket, he's played 85 games, he's one of our best batters,' Renshaw stated to reporters at the Australian PGA pro-am at Royal Queensland on Wednesday. 'He's one of the best cricketers that Australia's ever produced.'
Renshaw, who is widely touted as Khawaja's natural successor at the top of the Australian order, was only present at the event because Khawaja had to withdraw due to his recent back issues.
Injury and Selection Scrutiny
The pressure on Khawaja intensified after he struggled with unusual back spasms during the Test in Perth. The problem was severe enough to force him to bat at No. 4 in the first innings, and he was not required at all during the stunning run chase on day two.
Compounding his fitness concerns, Khawaja's place is under a microscope due to a dip in form and the fact he turns 39 in December. The situation was exacerbated when Travis Head scored an extraordinary 123 runs after replacing Khawaja as opener in the second innings, prompting immediate calls for a permanent change to the batting order.
Khawaja is now back in Brisbane undergoing further assessment for the back problem, which reportedly flared up unexpectedly on the first day of the match.
Renshaw's Form and Future Prospects
If selectors decide to replace Khawaja with a specialist long-form opener, Matt Renshaw is perfectly positioned for a recall. The left-hander, who last played Test cricket in February 2023 as a concussion substitute for David Warner, is in scintillating form.
His 112 against Victoria under lights at the Gabba this week followed a century and a half-century in his previous Sheffield Shield outing. His record in day-night first-class matches is particularly compelling, having scored 312 runs at an average of 62.40, including two centuries from just three games since 2021.
'I'm happy the Queensland selectors probably saw that,' Renshaw remarked about his recent performance. 'Knowing that we won the game for Queensland was something that was pretty special. We had a lot of people missing... so knowing that as a senior batter for Queensland, standing up and doing my job... was pretty nice.'
Remarkably, Renshaw claims that becoming a father to two children, Charlotte and Edward, has given him a healthier perspective on the stress of potential Test selection. 'Definitely handling it a lot better nowadays, there's a lot more calm in my life,' he explained. 'Old Matt Renshaw wouldn't have had to go home and change nappies... Stuff like that definitely changes your perspective.'
All eyes will now be on the day-night Test in Brisbane, starting on December 4, where Khawaja's immediate future and Renshaw's compelling case for a return will be decided.
