Test is getting Shield results
TEST opener Matt Renshaw is about to discover a year is a long time in cricket.
Renshaw will spearhead the Queensland Bulls when they begin their Sheffield Shield campaign against Victoria today at the Gabba in a pink-ball season-opener.
For Renshaw, the stakes are completely different to 2016-17. The left-hander went into last summer as a relative unknown before a few strong Shield performances saw him secure a Baggy Green.
All eyes will be on his form in the lead-up to the first Test at the Gabba starting November 23.
“I want to score as many runs as possible,” the 21-yearold said.
“Cricket is a funny game. You can’t guarantee runs because of the nature of the game, but you want to put your best foot forward when you’re in the middle.
“I want to bat as long as I can. Nothing really changes too much (to last year).
“When I get the opportunity I need to try to win games for Queensland. Doing that puts you in good stead for national selection and honours.
“If I’m scoring runs for Queensland then hopefully we can be going close to winning those games.”
Renshaw probably doesn’t need to dominate in the Shield to retain his Test berth but scoring runs would ensure he enters the Ashes series without any added pressure.
His 10 Tests have yielded 623 runs at 36.64 with one century (184) and three fifties.
He had a relatively quiet JLT Cup campaign, scoring 151 runs at 25.1 in the one-day competition, and coach Wade Seccombe said Renshaw had to stay relaxed ahead of a big summer.
“He’s got to be careful he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself,” Seccombe said. “He works very hard on his process and that doesn’t change. If he sticks with that he will walk away at the end of the day and be in a pretty good spot.
“Players can start getting ahead of themselves and that’s when they get themselves into trouble.
“He’s strong-minded and strong-willed. I can’t see there being any dramas with Renners.”
Renshaw will have three matches before the Test team is selected with Bulls captain Usman Khawaja pushing for an Ashes recall.