RENSHAW HAS FULL SUPPORT FOR ASHES
NATHAN Lyon believes Test opener Matt Renshaw is ready to burn England in the Ashes.
Renshaw’s hopes of retaining his berth at the top of Australia’s batting order received a dramatic boost yesterday when he was summoned for a training session with the country’s top fast bowlers.
The towering left-hander has been under the pump following a slow start to the Sheffield Shield season and the emergence of West Australian opener Cameron Bancroft.
While Queensland’s lower order was attempting to save the game against NSW at Allan Border Field, Renshaw was in the adjacent nets facing a 45-minute blitz from Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird.
The invitation for Renshaw to train with the Test set-up while his state team was in the midst of a match bodes well for his selection prospects ahead of next week’s Ashes opener at the Gabba.
And more importantly, Renshaw has some influential figures in his corner.
Lyon, the Test team’s songmaster, was unequivocal in declaring the 21-year-old had the support of the team’s inner sanctum.
“Last Test Matt Renshaw played in Australia he got 184 (against Pakistan),” Lyon said.
“I’m not a selector but I like Matt. I am a big fan of Matt Renshaw.
“He got unlucky in two dismissals (16 and one) here but I’m a big fan of Matty.
“Playing cricket for Australia, you’re going to come under scrutiny from the public.”