Former Australia opening batter Matthew Hayden has expressed support for Matt Renshaw to take on the opening slot in Tests over Steve Smith, following David Warner’s retirement. With the opening position up for grabs, Hayden dismissed the idea of Smith opening and backed Matt Renshaw for the role. Warner recently concluded his Test career after playing his farewell match against Pakistan in Sydney.
“It’s just not going to happen in my opinion. He’s commanded so much respect in the game that we should all listen to what he has to say, but I equally think that’s not the way the Australian cricket team management will go. It certainly doesn’t sound like the way Pat will go,” said Hayden.
Hayden emphasized that Smith moving to the opening position is unlikely. Instead, he endorsed Renshaw as a suitable choice, citing the left-handed batter’s age as an advantage. Renshaw has accumulated 645 runs in 14 Test matches for Australia, boasting an average of 29.31, including three fifties and a century.
“I just can’t see how strategically that [Smith opening] is going to work for Cricket Australia. They will need someone more concrete than that. When you look at the success over the last two years of this Test team, it’s been based on a very solid foundation. It’s been such a key structure – that number one to four set in stone has been gold for Cricket Australia,” Hayden added.
“David Warner has had his say in Marcus Harris and Ricky Ponting has had his say on record with [Cameron] Bancroft. I feel like a left-handed opener in Renshaw is that person with age on his side. He maybe doesn’t have the performances of Bancroft at first-class cricket but in many ways, I just feel like he has shown what he can potentially do, and he has that longevity,” said Hayden.
Australia, after a successful series against Pakistan, is set to face the West Indies in a two-match Test series starting on January 17. The discussion around the opening partnership underscores the ongoing evolution of Australia’s Test team following the retirements of key players.
