Australia is without a concussion substitute on Day 3 as Matt Renshaw is released to compete in the BBL qualifier.
Australia is without a concussion substitute on Day 3 as Matt Renshaw is released to compete in the BBL qualifier
Australian batter Matt Renshaw will be released to play in the Brisbane Heat’s qualifier against the Sydney Sixers on Friday, January 19.
The left-hander is the Australian team’s sole reserve hitter in the opening Test against the West Indies.
This means the hosts will be without a concussion substitute on Day 3 of the Test, which overlaps with the BBL qualifier.
Cricket Renshaw was supposed to fly from Adelaide to the Gold Coast to play for the Brisbane Heat on Thursday night and return Saturday morning (Day 4).
If Australia need a concussion substitution on Day 3, Renshaw will very likely return to Adelaide on short notice.
The Heat finished first in the 2023-24 BBL points standings, winning seven and losing one in ten games (two draws).
Renshaw featured in seven games but scored only 113 runs with an average of 18.83 and a strike rate of less than 112.
Meanwhile, Australia’s debut with Steve Smith saw Cameron Green switch to the starting lineup, putting the 27-year-old Renshaw on the bench.
In fact, the southpaw batted as a concussion substitute once, replacing David Warner against India in Delhi last year.
Apart from Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne is the only other Australian player who has accepted the post.
Australia off to a great start in the first Test against the West Indies
Australia maintained their overwhelming Test form on the first day of the two-match series against the West Indies.
After surprisingly deciding to bowl at the Adelaide Oval, the hosts were on the money from the get-go.
Skipper Pat Cummins dismissed both West Indian openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, cheaply, reducing the visitors to 27/2.
Since then, Josh Hazlewood has dominated, taking the next four wickets. In the process, the 33-year-old surpassed 250 Test wickets.
His burst of 4/21 thus far destroyed the West Indies middle order, resulting to a collapse from 98/3 to 104/6.
Australia has won the previous nine Test series between the two countries. With the West Indies’ last Test match victory coming in 2003.
The hosts defeated Pakistan 3-0 in the most recent series and are presently leading the 2023-25 World Team Championship rankings.
The Australians won the WTC title last year, defeating India in the final at the Oval. The West Indies are now at 122/6 after 45 overs, with Joshua Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph at the crease.