Renshaw breaks 119-year Aussie record

Matthew Renshaw’s prolific start to his Test career has seen him become the first Australia batsman to reach 500 Test runs before turning 21.

Renshaw, who made a fine 44 on the first morning of the third Test in Ranchi, zoomed past previous record holder Clem Hill, who held the title as Australia’s highest run-scorer under 21 with 482 runs for 119 years.

The Queenslander reached the 500-run landmark in his 11th Test innings to sit above Hill, Phillip Hughes, Don Bradman, Doug Walters and Stan McCabe as Australia’s most successful young batsman.

However, Renshaw is light years away from Sachin Tendulkar’s total world record, who by the age of 21 had accumulated a staggering 2,023 runs and seven centuries.

The left-hander celebrates his 21st birthday on day three of the fourth Test in Dharamashala and will be hoping to further add to his tally of 523 runs in Ranchi.

Alongside Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson, Renshaw made his Test debut at the Adelaide Oval last November after Australia’s selectors overhauled the XI following five straight defeats and series losses to Sri Lanka and South Africa.

In just his second innings Renshaw showed he had the temperament to thrive at Test level by scoring a resolute 34no from 137 balls to guide Australia to victory in Adelaide.

He then followed it up with 71 in the first innings in Melbourne before breaking through to score his maiden Test century, a magnificent 184 at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Pakistan.

That knock secured his place in Australia’s Test XI for the first match of the Qantas Tour of India, and despite having never stepped foot in the subcontinent, he made vital scores of 68 and 31 in Pune as he battled stomach issues.

Renshaw carried his form to Bengaluru for the second Test and once again featured in the runs, this time with 60 in Australia’s first innings.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann was full of praise for his rookie opener after the tourists wrapped up the first Test by 333 runs in Pune.

“The way he played - he hadn't actually hit the ball that well in our lead up - but for some reason when he gets out in the middle, he knows exactly what he wants to do and how he wants to do it,” Lehmann said.

“So for a 20-year-old that's pretty special.

“For him to come out, obviously a bit crook here and there, and to bat in different positions and have a clear plan, especially in the second innings, about the way he wanted to go about it, that's good for a young man to have that insight into the game so early.”