Matt Renshaw says he will be as prepared as ever to take on spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin, if he gets a call-up to Australia’s Test-playing XI on the upcoming tour of India.
In 2021, Ravichandran Ashwin became the first bowler in history to take 200 wickets against left-handed batters. The 26-year-old Matt Renshaw will tour with fellow top-six left-handers David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey is also a lefty, so the challenges ahead are immense in the four-Test series that starts next month.
Matt Renshaw Feels Ravichandran Ashwin Is Difficult To Face
Matt Renshaw would play in the middle order if selected for the current side. When Australia toured India in 2017, he played all but one innings of the four Tests as an opener. Ravichandran Ashwin got him out just once, in the first Test at Pune, but not before he had top-scored with 68.
“Ashwin is difficult to face. He is a smart bowler with a lot of variations and he uses them very well, but you do get used to him once you’ve faced him for a while,” Matt Renshaw said.“I think the big challenge from Ashwin and any off-spinner in spinning conditions to a left-hander is the lbw threat. Obviously everyone thinks about the one that turns and gets you caught at slip, but the big one is the lbw when it doesn’t spin. You just have to be ready for that one.
“I think two years batting at No. 5 helped me with facing spin. I know my game a lot better now and I am a lot more comfortable in different situations. We have a strong squad and it is going to be hard to push my way in, but I know that I will be ready if I do get a chance.”
Matt Renshaw is still part of the Brisbane Heat’s BBL campaign and has been preparing for India by having the spinners in his team, such as Mitchell Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann and even Marnus Labuschagne, bowl the SG ball at him that is used in Test cricket in India.
“The SG ball is a bit different, so we are just trying to prepare as well as we can during this BBL schedule if we get a window to hit red balls,” Renshaw said.“It is a lot different conditions in India, so we are trying to replicate them as much as we can. The plan was if [the Heat] got knocked out we’d do some prep with the [Australian] team in Sydney, but we just kept winning and are in the finals now. We have got a good week and a bit in India before the first Test, so there will be plenty of time to prepare there as well.”
Australian batsman Matt Renshaw has been named in the 18-member squad for the four-match Test series for the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023, starting February 9. Matt Renshaw believes he is ready to challenge spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin if given a chance in playing XI. The left-handed batsman is not a sure-shot starter in the batting lineup for the first Test match.
The Aussies last played Test cricket in India in February 2017 and defeated the hosts by 333 runs in the first Test in Pune, but lost the series 2-1. The Pat Cummins-led side will be hoping for their first series win in India since 2004.
India team is second in the 2023 World Test Championship points table, and this will be the final Test series to qualify for the final on June 8 at the Oval.
Matt Renshaw Returned To The Test Team Replacing Injured Cameron Green Against Proteas
Matt Renshaw returned to the Test team this month in Sydney against South Africa to replace the injured Cameron Green after previously playing in that format in 2018. He did so on the back of the strong form in first-class cricket.
The new father to baby daughter Charlotte has observed close friend and team-mate Usman Khawaja’s mindset towards his cricket and has learned to enjoy the moment, rather than worry about selections. The 26-year-old batter could get a chance to bat in the middle order if all-rounder Cameron Green does not regain full fitness.
“I am feeling good with my cricket. I am just rolling with any punches and enjoying myself,” Renshaw said.
Matt Renshaw has played 12 Tests amassing 641 runs averaging 33.74. He managed to score 5* in the only innings against Proteas in the 3rd and final Test. His previous appearance in Tests came in 2018 against South Africa. His highest of 184 came way back in 2017 against Pakistan. He had scored two fifties on that 2017 India tour and one fifty on that 2017 Pakistan home series.
Matt Renshaw returned to Australia’s Test squad and appeared in the playing XI for the New Year’s Test against South Africa in Sydney earlier this month, having returned with a positive COVID-19 report on the opening day of the match