'Mad not to': Bulls reveal longer-term plan for Renshaw

Matthew Renshaw made a triumphant return to the top of the order during the English summer but the Queenslander says he doesn't mind where he bats despite a potential long-term opening at the top of Australia's Test line-up looming.

Renshaw started his first-class career as an opener – and played his 11 Tests for Australia occupying the position – but was squeezed down the order ahead of 2020-21 summer due to a glut of top-order batters in the Bulls squad.

But with incumbent Test openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja both turning 36 before the end of the year, it appears to be the most immediate spot up for grabs over the next few years in a relatively settled national side.

Renshaw's form for Queensland last season and with Somerset in this year's County Championship has him right on the fringes of an international recall with the 26-year-old called up to the ODI squad in Pakistan in March and part of the Australia A tour to Sri Lanka in June.

The left-hander told cricket.com.au's The Unplayable Podcast that his return to opening the batting was orchestrated by his county Somerset's need for an opener, and he enjoyed the challenge negotiating the sticky English wickets in early April.

"They needed an opener, so it fit me to go back to the top," said Renshaw.

"It was a little bit strange at the start having not opened for a couple of years, but I enjoy the challenge of facing the new ball especially early in April and there's a few little sticky green wickets where you knew a ball might have your name on it.

"But that's the greatest part of opening is having that challenge."

And Renshaw certainly rose to the challenge, peeling off his first century in last week of April before adding another in July along with a 94 on his way to 620 runs at 47.69 from eight matches in division one.

He also scored a century (120 off 102 balls at No.4) in the one-day cup and picked up six wickets with his casual off-spin to complete a fantastic second season with Somerset alongside Tasmanian veteran Peter Siddle (44 wickets in 19 first-class and T20 matches).

"It was a really enjoyable summer over there, being able to play a lot of red-ball games was a real blessing for us," said Renshaw.

"It's a lot better than standing in the cold doing running sessions."

None of Renshaw's 11 Tests from 2016-2018 were in England so his strong showing in foreign conditions bodes well for his chances of inclusion in next year's Ashes squad, particularly when Nic Maddinson, Australia's other reserve batter alongside Renshaw for the Pakistan Test tour in March, passed fifty just once in 16 innings for Durham during the current season.

"Being able to challenge myself against some of the best bowlers in England, learning about different conditions and learning about the ball (was beneficial)," he said.

"Probably the highlight was facing (South African off-spinner) Simon Harmer at Essex in their notoriously spin friendly conditions and being able to bat for a long time (146 off 313 balls) against him and play that challenge, I really enjoyed that."

But with Bulls captain Khawaja likely to take up one of the opening positions due to his international commitments, and with Bryce Street continuing to impress and fellow former Test opener Joe Burns also in the Queensland squad, it seems that Renshaw may again have to be content with role in the middle-order this Marsh Sheffield Shield season.

"Over the last couple years having batted in that middle-order for Queensland and being quite successful, I feel like I can fit in the side at any point," said Renshaw.

"I know that if I bat in the middle-order I'm quite strong against spin and if I'm opening the batting I can deal with the new ball as well so I'm not really too fussed about where I bat.

"At Queensland, our top five can all open the batting, so only two get to do it and when you've got Marnus (Labuschagne) at three, he's always going to take that spot."

Queensland head coach Wade Seccombe told cricket.com.au he'd always considered Renshaw an opener, but he just happens to be batting at number five in the current Bulls side.

"It's always our intention that he moves up to the top of the order at some point in time," said Seccombe.

"I think he'd be mad not to want to do that with the current openers in the Australian team (Usman Khawaja and David Warner), who are locked in for the immediate future, but they're both probably closer to the end of their career than the start of their careers."

Renshaw arrived home from the UK late last month just before it was announced he would be switching from Adelaide Strikers to the Brisbane Heat this season to allow him and wife Josie to be closer to family with the couple expecting their first child in December.

And after being named the Marsh One-Day Cup player-of-the-series last season, he hopes to continue to develop his white-ball game with both Queensland and in the Big Bash this summer.

"I feel like my game at the moment in T20 and one-day cricket (is) growing and being that number three or four role for Queensland has been a really enjoyable challenge for me," said Renshaw.

"The one-day game is something that I've developed quite a bit over the last few years but we (Queensland) want to try and win something, that's the end goal.

"Whether that's the Shield, or the Big Bash and one-day cup is something I've never won, so trying to win one of the (white-ball competitions). As a team we're definitely good enough, a couple of years ago we won the final by an innings so we're definitely able to do that and that's the big goal for everyone is trying to win the Shield at the end of the year."

Queensland open their Shield campaign against Tasmania at Allan Border Field from October 6-9, with their first match of the season a day-night Marsh Cup fixture with South Australia on September 26, which will be the first clash under lights at the same venue after an $18m upgrade.