Australia have made one change to their 13-player squad for the second and final ICC World Test Championship fixture against Bangladesh in Mackay. Opener Jake Weatherald is set to be dropped, while Matthew Renshaw has been brought in as his replacement.
Weatherald managed scores of just 23 and zero in the first Test, which Australia lost by nine wickets after being bowled out for 198 in their first innings. Renshaw’s recall comes after more than three years away from Test cricket. The 30-year-old’s last Test appearance came in Delhi against India in 2023, when he was brought in as a concussion substitute for regular opener David Warner.
Renshaw has since represented Australia in both ODI and T20I cricket and could now return to the Test side as Australia look to strengthen a struggling top order.
Marnus Labuschagne, meanwhile, retains his No. 3 position despite another low score. Australia coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged that the batter has work to do to cement his position.
“I think it was 31 he got in the second innings, and up until the point he got out, you’d sit there and say he was looking good,” McDonald said at the post-match press conference, as per a video posted on the ICC’s social media handle.
“He was moving well, he’s clipping off his pads, he was getting back through the ball down the ground. So it’s easy for me to sit here and try to defend that, but ultimately it’s 31. It’s not a big score. He’s lacked runs. He feels that. We feel that. We’re working incredibly hard as a coaching group.”
On the other hand, back-up wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and reserve bowler Scott Boland retain their places, with the second Test beginning on Saturday.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
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