Matt Renshaw scored an epic first Test century in more than nine years and 280 days, putting Australia in control of the first Test of their highly anticipated series against South Africa.
After much talk about the issues among their ageing top order on day one, Renshaw ground out a majestic career-best 190 from 397 balls in Durban, emphatically pushing his case to be part of Australia’s future. He dragged Australia from 124-6 to 390 all out, with Pat Cummins contributing 43. South Africa were 27-1 at the close, with Aiden Markram unbeaten on 15. Marco Mulder took 4-68 for the hosts, while Josh Hazlewood claimed 1-9 in reply.
The 30-year-old was born in Middlesbrough and was a childhood friend of England captain Joe Root, as their fathers played together in English club cricket. His parents left the UK for New Zealand and then Australia when he was seven.
Renshaw’s innings was a statement from a player whose international career has been in and out of the side. He scored 184 in his fourth Test, against Pakistan in January 2017, after being handed a debut aged 20. He then averaged 19.41 across 10 Tests over two spells before being recalled earlier this year.
“I like him as a player,” former Australia batter Simon Katich said on SEN Radio. “When he first came in, I liked him as a player, even though others thought he was too defensive.
“I think that is what this team has needed and been crying out for.”
Renshaw showed impeccable patience and resilience, leaving or defending all of the deliveries he faced in the early overs. On day one he hit only three boundaries, and he attacked just 14.2% of deliveries in making his first 50 runs, the lowest figure of the Australia top order. The innings continued in that vein on day two, as he left well and scored mostly square or behind the wicket.
“A few years out of the team, I had the opportunity in 2023, you think [you’re] never going to get the opportunity again,” Renshaw said.
“When I hit the ball [to go to his hundred] I was screaming at it ‘go, go, go’.
“It hit me all at once. It was pretty special.”
He extended his partnership with Cummins in the morning session to 86. He then expertly controlled a stand of 134 with number 10 Nathan Lyon, frustrating and tiring South Africa’s bowlers. Renshaw took the strike when needed, protecting Lyon from the pace of Anrich Nortje, but grew more aggressive as the partnership developed, adding boundaries and inflicting further pain. He added a further 21 with number 11 Josh Hazlewood before falling in the first over after tea.
Does Renshaw’s knock solve Australia’s top-order dilemma?
Renshaw’s superb innings, along with opener Ryan Rickelton’s three-ball duck in the 8.4 overs before bad light halted South Africa’s reply, has left Australia well placed to push for victory. The pitch flattened out on day two but is expected to take turn later in the Test.
This series has been eagerly anticipated, as it is a repeat of last year’s World Test Championship final, which was won by the Proteas. It is also the third of a possible 21 Tests for Australia before the end of the Ashes next summer. While Renshaw has surely secured his immediate future at least, his knock does not resolve all questions over the make-up of the side.
When he was recalled in August, Renshaw replaced Jake Weatherald as opener. For this Test, however, he was moved down to number five when Cameron Green was ruled out. Nic Maddinson came in at the top of the order alongside Travis Head, giving Australia an 11th different opening partnership since the retirement of David Warner. With Green, the regular number five, expected to return, and Maddinson making a 33-ball duck on day one, one solution to the top-order struggles would be to move Renshaw up again.
That would reunite him with Head, who made the surprise move to opener to impressive effect in the Ashes, flogging England for centuries in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney. Head has shown vulnerability since, however, failing to pass 22 in his four innings. Alternatively, Renshaw could stay in the middle order and Green could return in place of fellow all-rounder Beau Webster, meaning Australia’s hunt for a settled opening pair would continue.
“No idea,” Renshaw said of the decision ahead. “That’s well above my pay grade.
“Whatever is the best for the team is the one for me. I am not too fussed.”