Coming of the baggy greenhorns
AUSTRALIA could name four debutants for the first time since the start of World Series Cricket as Matt Renshaw fights to prove his fitness for the first Test against Pakistan.
Renshaw copped a head knock fielding under the helmet at short leg on day two of Australia’s tour match against Pakistan A and was ruled out of the match with concussion.
Reports suggest the concussion is minor but missing the only lead-up match cast doubt on his position and puts Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne in the frame for a debut.
As it is Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Michael Neser are all likely to earn their maiden baggy green caps, but if Labuschagne gets a call-up it would a near unprecedented upheaval.
Not since the first season of World Series Cricket, when six debutants were blooded for the first Test and four for the last against India, would selectors have enacted such change.
Transformation is also imminent at Cricket Australia headquarters, with a chief executive expected to be an- nounced as early as tomorrow.
James Sutherland’s 2IC, Kevin Roberts, is a frontrunner but there is also significant support for creating an entirely fresh start with former NSW chairman John Warn.
Sutherland was prepared to serve out a 12-month notice period but it’s unlikely he would be in the role by the time the summer begins.
Renshaw will continue to undergo testing in Dubai, but the left-hand opener is improving and the concussion isn’t believed to be serious.
“He’s OK,” Finch said after making a half-century. “It was a pretty heavy knock to the head there. He’s been with the medical staff all afternoon but he seems in really good spirits. He’s confident that his headaches are subsiding.”
In Renshaw’s absence, Usman Khawaja (36) opened the batting with Finch.
Mitchell Marsh was 126 not out last night after brother Shaun made 94. Labuschagne also had a chance to make runs and pose an interesting dilemma for selectors after Pakistan A allowed Australia to substitute him for Renshaw.