Renshaw facing the Test best
ANDREW Vine was last night “stoked” after being named to make his first XI debut for Geelong.
The talented all-rounder received the news from Cats coach Liam Buchanan at training.
“He literally came up to me five minutes ago and said ‘congrats, mate’,” an elated Vine said. “I knew what he was talking about. It’s unreal, it’s a very surreal feeling.
“It’s an honour to play first XI cricket … I’m certainly excited.”
Selected to play against Essendon at Geelong Cricket Ground tomorrow, Vine said he was shocked to earn the call up.
“I wasn’t expecting it, certainly not, but playing second XI cricket there’s only one grade up, so if you play well you’re half a chance to play first XI.
“The first XI batters haven’t been doing all that well, the bowlers have been pulling them out of the s---. So if you’re batting well in the top four in the seconds, you might get an stoked.”
In his third season at Geelong, Vine will relinquish the captaincy reins of the second XI and step into the firsts.
He is likely to bat down the order and play a role with the ball, but the two-time St Albans Breakwater premiership player couldn’t care less.
“I just want to play my role … whatever that is,” Vine said.
“If it’s bat at seven or eight, I will absolutely go for it. If I can bowl a few overs here or there, I’m all for it.”
Vine makes his most significant step just weeks after over- opportunity. I’m coming injury.
He revealed he had suffered stress fractures in his right foot as well as back problems.
“I’ve got a bit of a back issue that I’ve had forever,” he said.
“I’ve learnt how to play with injuries. I’m 27 now and I’ve played a fair bit of cricket with injuries and I know how to manage my body.”
Buchanan said Vine thoroughly deserved his chance after strong contributions in the seconds.
“He was injured earlier in the year and he came back and got 40 not out and guided them to victory and then he got 80 odd last week,” he said.
“On top of that, he was our leading run scorer in the twos last year and made a couple of hundreds. He also bowls a little bit and we think his off-pace bowling and his batting will be important for us. He was close last year. I was batting coach and I was surprised that he didn’t crack it for a game.
“He must’ve been awfully close, and from the start of the year Eamonn (Vines) has loved his enthusiasm. He’s in our leadership group and he brings a lot of energy and he’s a real competitor. He’s going to be a great inclusion for us.” QUEENSLAND opener Matthew Renshaw will face a particularly stern challenge in his latest Test audition, starting today.
The left-hander will open for the Bulls in a Sheffield Shield match against a NSW bowling attack that features Australia’s Test line-up Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
This Shield round is vital for batsmen pushing their claims to gain selection for Australia’s Test series against India, which starts on December 6.
Renshaw is among candidates including Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Peter Handscomb seeking to boost their claims with substantial Shield scores.
“I don’t think you can really control what goes on selection-wise,” Renshaw said.
“If it happens, it happens. If not, it doesn’t. It’s out of my control. I have just got to score as many runs as I can.”
Renshaw was pragmatic about facing NSW’s Teststrength bowling attack.
“You can’t put anyone on a pedestal,” he said.
“They’re obviously a good bowling attack. We have just got to face that Kookaburra (ball) coming down at us … just worry about that ball coming down at me and trying to bat as long as I can.”
Renshaw made 89 in Queensland’s last Shield game against Western Australia.
“I was just able to bat … I just felt really rhythmical and not even thinking too much about batting,” he said.
“Just really enjoying it and having a smile on my face and a song in my head and it all seemed to click.”
South Australia meets Western Australia in Adelaide, starting today, in a fixture featuring Test incumbents Mitch Marsh and Travis Head.
Tasmania host a Victorian team including Test hopeful Handscomb from tomorrow in Hobart. Noise continues to grow around Handscomb, who, according to teammate and fellow baggy-green aspirant Marcus Harris, is batting as well as he ever has.