BANCROFT ON TARGET

OPENER Matt Renshaw can’t make a run, but he was given a special chance to present his Test case at the Gabba yesterday as the Ashes selection conjecture deepened.

Queenslander Renshaw was drafted into a 45-minute net session against Test quicks Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird, watched by head coach Darren Lehmann and high performance boss Pat Howard.

At the MCG, incumbent Test No.6 Glenn Maxwell had to wait most of the day for his chance to atone for a firstinnings Sheffield Shield failure against Tasmania.

Maxwell was 20 not out at stumps and will bat on today.

With Cameron Bancroft almost assured of selection after his double ton this week, the focus falls on whether the West Australian plays as an opener in place of Renshaw, at No.6 in place of Maxwell or takes the wicketkeeper’s gloves from Matthew Wade, who is widely expected to be dropped.

Bancroft has kept for WA in its past two games.

With Test selectors putting their heads together in Brisbane last night whatever Maxwell does today may be for nought, but the Victorian was philosophical yesterday.

“I have absolutely no idea,” Maxwell said of his first Test chances. “We’ve all seen how many names have been thrown up. We’ve seen Cameron Bancroft perform well in the west — I think that’s what [the selectors] asked for. But who knows what they are going to do?”

Meanwhile, Test great Justin Langer has denied throwing Renshaw “under the bus”, saying he was merely highlighting the increasing pressure that is building on the out of form opener.

Renshaw’s Ashes hopes are in doubt after his drastic form slump continued in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield clash with NSW. The 21-year-old scored 16 and 1 against the Blues, meaning he has failed to reach 20 in his past nine innings.

Recently, Langer noted that the pressure was building on Renshaw and pointed out that WA batsman Shaun Marsh was in sparkling form and deserved another crack in the Test arena. Langer has also talked up the Ashes prospects of fellow Warriors Hilton Cartwright and Bancroft.

But former ODI paceman Brett Geeves questioned why Langer would point out Renshaw’s struggles instead of helping the youngster. He said it was like Langer was salivating over the “deliciousness of eating the next 10-year opening batter, just to push a clear state-based agenda”.

Langer felt his comments about Renshaw had been unfairly interpreted by Geeves.

“Brett Geeves made a comment that I’d thrown him [Renshaw] under the bus. But that’s not the case,” Langer said.

“It should always be very competitive to be in the Australian cricket team.

“That’s how it’s always been, and should be.”