Australia vs South Africa Test news, Matthew Renshaw and Ashton Agar called in for Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc, SCG squad
Australian selectors have pulled a surprise squad change by recalling opening batter Matthew Renshaw ahead of the SCG Test.
Renshaw, 28, made his Test debut in 2016 and has played 11 matches in the baggy green in total, but has not been seen in the arena since April 2018.
His inclusion in the squad for next week’s dead rubber against South Africa is intriguing, given the speculation around the futures of David Warner and Usman Khawaja, the two incumbent openers who are both 36 years old.
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Warner in particular had been under immense pressure to save his Test career, which he did with a superb double hundred in Melbourne in sweltering heat.
Australia has also called Ashton Agar into the squad.
Agar is much more likely to play in Sydney as cover for all-rounder Cameron Green, who broke his finger in Melbourne.
Green and Mitchell Starc are omitted from the squad due to injury. Josh Hazlewood is expected to be recalled from injury to replace Starc.
That leaves one spot available – pending any other injuries or unforced changes, which seem unlikely – replacing Green who is a fast-bowling middle-order batter.
The SCG wicket is spin-friendly and Australia is being encouraged to play two tweakers, suggesting Agar will come in to partner Nathan Lyon in the slow-bowling stocks.
The Aussies will likely also use the match as a look-ahead to the India tour.
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Warner has all but been guaranteed his spot in India, despite a fairly dismal career record there.
Renshaw, who averages 33.47 from his 11 Tests, has played four matches in India and averages 29.00 there, while Warner averages only 24.25.
Khawaja has never played a Test in India. In Pakistan he averages a ridiculous 165.33 from three matches.
Khawaja is also in hot form, having amassed 1080 runs in the 2022 calendar year at an average of 67.50 for Australia.
It seems unlikely selectors would bring Renshaw in and drop Warner for the SCG match, given it may conceivably be the veteran opener’s last chance to play in front of his home crowd.
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