Australia will select its playing XI for the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Saturday with Matthew Renshaw making his long-awaited return to the Test side. The match is set for Saturday, August 22, at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay and Australia will be hoping to bounce back after a poor start to the series.
Renshaw's inclusion is the main talking point in Australia's team selection. The 30-year-old batsman has been brought in to make his first Test since 2013 as Jake Weatherald has been dropped in place of him as well. Renshaw had his first Test appearance in more than three years in a game in India against India in Delhi as part of the second Test of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has backed Renshaw to make the most of his opportunity and deliver the kind of performance the team expects from him. Cummins said the batter is very well aware of what he needs to do at his best and that he has to be consistent in the game.
Cummins said: “We just want his best,” as he explained Renshaw’s selection. The Australian captain also stressed Renshaw must be sharp in his delivery, put pressure on the opposition bowlers and keep his best game going.
“But that’s the hope with Renners, to keep bringing your best version every day. That’s nice and sharp, putting a bit of pressure back on the bowlers,” Cummins said.
Renshaw’s comeback comes at an important moment for Australia. Having lost the opening Test, the hosts cannot afford another poor performance if they want to level the two-match series. Bangladesh, however, are in a strong position and can only win a draw or another victory to secure a historic series victory.
Nathan Lyon is still in the Australian XI as a bowler despite the change of the side. The experienced off-spinner is part of Australia's plan, especially when Bangladesh's batting line-up is in place at the moment and the conditions are very different.
Scott Boland and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis have been left out of the starting XI again. Alex Carey continues as Australia's wicketkeeper, while the bowling attack is Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
The first Test was a big surprise as Bangladesh won on Australian soil for the first time. Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a crucial all-round performance for Bangladesh as well as Tanzid Hasan Tamim scored a Test century. The win puts Najmul Hossain Shanto’s team in the limelight of a series win.
Australia's batting line-up for the second Test is Matthew Renshaw, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Cameron Green with Alex Carey and Beau Webster also included. Cummins will lead the side as captain and lead the pace attack too.
For Bangladesh, the squad includes captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Musfik Hasan, Litton Das and Shoriful Islam.
The second Test will begin at 5:30 AM IST on August 22. With Bangladesh chasing a historic series victory and Australia trying to avoid a series defeat, the Mackay match will be a high-pressure one. Renshaw’s return will be one of the key storylines as Australia will attempt to respond strongly and push the series level.
