Renshaw charged up for Matador tilt
BOOM young Queensland Bulls batsman Matt Renshaw has made his name donning the whites but is looking forward to a splash of colour next week.
The 20-year-old batsman was Queensland’s leading Sheffield Shield runscorer last season and will get his chance in coloured clothes in the Bulls’ Matador Cup line-up when they open their tournament at Allan Border Field.
Renshaw is set to make his one-day debut for Queensland after having a taste of whiteball cricket during the winter for the National Performance Squad in the A-team series featuring India, South Africa and Australia.
“One of the things that was clear to me going into the National Performance Squad in the off-season was that it was a good chance to work on my skills for the shorter formats of the game,’’ said Renshaw, who became Queensland’s youngest Shield century-maker with his seven-hour innings of 170 against NSW in Mackay.
“I’ve been trying to work out my one-day game, and, hopefully, maybe get some one-day cricket in the future.
“Growing up I was never the biggest bloke so I couldn’t really whack them around, so I concentrated on batting as long as I could.
“But it’s exciting to have the chance to hopefully test myself in the Matador Cup.’’
Observers who watched Renshaw belt seven sixes out of the Adelaide Oval during his knock of 146 against the Redbacks in the Shield arena last season noted the power the left-hander has developed.
“I’ve enjoyed having the chance to spend time talking batting with Graeme Hick and Greg Chappell,” he said.
The Bulls wrapped up their pre-season with a tie against Auckland on the Gold Coast this week.
They open their Matador Cup campaign against the Cricket Australia XI next Saturday before taking on a Tasmanian team brimming with ex-Queenslanders on Monday week at Allan Border Field.