Why Australia’s “forgotten” opener should be considered for Test vacancy

Queensland’s Matthew Renshaw is the forgotten man when it comes to the vacant Test opening position according to former Australian bowler Shaun Graf.

The 28-year-old isn’t considered in the running to snap up the vacant position and was left out of the Australia A squad to face India A, with other Shield openers Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas picked over him.

Despite being overlooked, Graf thinks that Renshaw – who averages 33.62 as a Test opener – could be the right man to face India’s pace attack of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj early in the innings ahead of his Shield counterparts.

“Marcus Harris and Bancroft have been the form players in the Shield for a period of time,” Graf told SEN The Captain's Run.

“One that’s a bit forgotten is Renshaw. He’s got a Test hundred and he’s actually a pretty good player.

“He’s a bit slow on his feet, unfortunately, against the spin in Jadeja and Ashwin and I think he’s technically a better player to (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed) Siraj than those guys (Harris and Bancroft).”

If selectors don’t opt for a traditional red-ball opener, WA’s Josh Inglis has been thrown up as an option given his brilliant start to the Shield season where he’s scored 297 runs at an average of 99 at number six.

Although Inglis often bats at the top of the order for Australia in white ball cricket, Graf doesn’t think he should do the same in Test cricket as he prefers a specialist opener.

“I’m not certain on Inglis,” Graf said.

“I can see there’s a ying and yang (by selecting Inglis), but you’ve got to have a specialist opener.

“I’m not certain we go on testing and trailing players for a series that’s this, against the best test-playing country in the world.”

The first Test between Australia and India begins in Perth on November 22.