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Steady Renshaw OK for opener, but rivals closing

MATT Renshaw is likely to open for Australia in the first Test against England but he can hear the footsteps of rivals closing in.

Australia’s first Test side became clearer on some fronts — Peter Nevill is likely to be the keeper — but selectors will be keen spectators at next week’s Sheffield Shield games before naming their top order for the November 23 Gabba Test against England.

Renshaw made a painstaking 19 of 109 balls against Tasmania yesterday as Queensland (181 and 3-158) notched two wins from two Sheffield Shield games for new coach Wade Seccombe following fine efforts by fast men Luke Feldman and Michael Neser against Tasmania (186 and 150).

Renshaw’s opening partner and Test discard Joe Burns made 70 to put his name not so much up in lights but at least under the selectors’ eye.

Another challenge came from someone who has been on the radar for two years without breaking through, West Australian opener Cameron Bancroft, also keeping wickets in the Sydney game against NSW.

Bancroft batted through the innings against NSW’s Test attack to make an unbeaten 76 in a total of 176, the sort of out-ofthe-box effort needed to come from the clouds.

The No.6 spot remains in play with Hilton Cartwright facing an important innings against NSW’s in-form duo Mitchell Starc, who took a hattrick yesterday, and Josh Hazlewood today.

Jake Lehmann scored 103 in the first innings against Victoria and 93 yesterday.