Matt to open but Test spots up for grabs

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

Australia’s first Test side became clearer on some fronts over the past few days – 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 off 109 balls against Tasmania yesterday as the impressive Queensland Bulls ( 181 and 3- 158) smashed Tasmania ( 186 and 150).

Renshaw’s Shield scores in the two games have been 17 off 42 balls, 16 off 70, 1 off 16 and yesterday’s innings, giving him 53 off 237 balls

He is existing but not expanding at the crease. He deserves to get there and probably will but one argument supporting his case a week ago – “there’s no one else?’’ – no longer exists.

Renshaw’s Queensland opening partner and Test discard Joe Burns made 70 yesterday to put his name under the selectors’ eyes.

Another challenge came from West Australian opener Cameron Bancroft, also keeping wickets in the Sydney game against NSW. Bancroft batted through the entire innings against NSW’s Test attack to make an unbeaten 76 in a total of 176.

The No. 6 spot remains very much a matter of debate with Hilton Cartwright facing an important innings against NSW duo Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood today.

Darren Lehmann’s son Jake, who scored an up- tempo 103 in the first innings against Victoria, was hot again with 93.

He is unlikely to be chosen early in the Ashes series but any batsman who can score two or more centuries must be a contender.