Pakistan vs Australia: Matt Renshaw likely to play the second Test

Australia miraculously drew the first Test against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. Some scintillating batting from Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Tim Paine on the last day of the game helped the Aussies a great deal. Many expected that it would be Pakistan’s game, but this trio had other ideas. Now, the action moves to Abu Dhabi for the second Test and head coach Justin Langer is already pondering over the changes.

The Test match begins on October 16 and drawing the first game must have given a lot of confidence to the visitors. The 22-year-old Matt Renshaw was a surprise exclusion in the series opener. However, Langer wants to get the youngster back into the XI.

Why Renshaw didn’t play the first Test?

“The only thing that played against him this game and not his ability, not his work ethic, he’s done all the things so well over the last six months. It’s really hard to come into these conditions when you haven’t got match fitness. People could argue with that and that’s fine but my view on the world is that there’s nothing like match practice and he just hadn’t had any,” Langer was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Renshaw is a natural opener but the way Khawaja and Aaron Finch have batted in the first, the tourists wouldn’t want to tinker the top two in the line-up. Even the Aussie head coach is looking at Renshaw to be a potential number three. “He’s a terrific young player, really good in the group. I admire the way he’s gone about it, he had a smile on his face the whole time and there’s plenty of future for Matt Renshaw.

“Whether it comes in opening or batting No.3 or … it could come anywhere. He’s a good player. I’ve always said if you open you can bat anywhere in the order. Time will tell,” Langer added.

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