Australia have made one change to their squad for the second and final Test against Bangladesh, recalling Matthew Renshaw after their shocking nine-wicket humiliation in the series opener in Darwin.
Opener Jake Weatherald has been dropped from the 13-member squad after a disappointing outing in the first Test, with the left-handed Renshaw named as his replacement.
Renshaw could make his first Test appearance in more than three years if selected for the Mackay Test, which begins on Saturday. The 30-year-old last played Test cricket in Delhi against India in 2023, when he came into the side as a concussion substitute for regular opener David Warner.
Since then, Renshaw has represented Australia in both ODI and T20I cricket. His return to the Test squad comes after Australia’s top order struggled badly against Bangladesh, who secured a stunning nine-wicket victory in Darwin.
Australia were bowled out for just 198 in their first innings, while Weatherald managed only 23 and a duck across the two innings. His poor showing has resulted in his omission from the squad for the series finale.
Renshaw’s inclusion provides Australia with another option at the top of the order as they look to respond to one of the most unexpected defeats in their recent Test history.
Regular No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne, however, has retained his place despite his own struggles with the bat. Labuschagne scored 31 in the second innings in Darwin but has been short of runs for some time.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged that the experienced batter still has work to do to secure his position in the side.
“I think it was 31 he got in the second innings, and up until the point he got out, you’d sit there and say he was looking good,” McDonald said of Labuschagne.
“He was moving well, he’s clipping off his pads, he was getting back through the ball down the ground. So it’s easy for me to sit here and try to defend that, but ultimately it’s 31. It’s not a big score. He’s lacked runs. He feels that. We feel that. We’re working incredibly hard as a coaching group.”
The defeat in Darwin left Australia with plenty to address before the second Test, particularly after Bangladesh’s bowlers exposed weaknesses in their batting line-up.
Australia’s reserve wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and fast bowler Scott Boland have retained their places in the squad and could also come into contention for the series finale.