Matt Renshaw's century keeps him in Test contention: Details here
What's the story
Australia batter Matt Renshaw continued his stellar domestic form as he scored a brilliant 112 in the Sheffield Shield at The Gabba, Brisbane. The innings helped Queensland reach 352/7 at stumps on Day 2 of their match against Victoria. Renshaw had already made a mark with scores of 128, 29, 101, and 51 in previous Shield matches this season. He also had a good ODI series against India, including a well-made 56 in Sydney.
Top performer
Renshaw climbs to top with latest ton
Renshaw started patiently against Victoria before picking up the pace with some exquisite drives down the ground. He scored 112 off 192 balls, a knock laced with 10 fours. His ton earned him a rapturous reception from fans at The Gabba. With his latest innings, Renshaw has now scored 421 runs in the Shield this summer, topping the aggregate list by a margin of 19 runs over Marnus Labuschagne, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Return
Can Renshaw return to Test squad?
Reflecting on his game, Renshaw said, "I'm just keeping it really simple and having a lot of fun out there and having good intent." He added that he hopes his performances will contribute to something bigger by the end of March. While Australia continue to gather openers for the 2nd Test of the Ashes series at The Gabba, Renshaw's consistent performance has only strengthened his case for a Test return.
Stats
A look at his career stats
With his latest ton, Renshaw has raced past 8,000 runs in First-Class cricket. In 130 red-ball encounters, the Aussie batter has an average of around 40. His tally includes 26 centuries and 24 half-centuries. Renshaw has represented Australia in 14 Tests, scoring 645 at an average of 29.31. He also owns a ton and three half-centuries. The Aussie batter has also played three ODIs.