David Warner’s retirement from Test cricket saw a promotion of Steven Smith in the batting order, as the 34-year-old has been revealed as the new red-ball opener. Batting alongside Usman Khawaja, the cricketer scored 12 runs in the first innings and 11* in the second innings as Australia picked up a comfortable 10-wicket win over West Indies. Meanwhile, Cameron Green, who replaced Smith in the middle order looked shaky as the all-rounder made just 14 runs, which gave birth to multiple doubts regarding Australia’s new-look batting order.
Head coach Andrew McDonald however isn’t bothered with the outside noise as he mentioned that the sample size is very small to judge. He explained that it has been only one game and expects the cricketers to find their feet in the coming times. The former cricketer mentioned that the team management is optimistic about the new system and will back players ahead of the second Test against West Indies at Gabba.
“Sample size of one is always difficult to judge. We're comfortable with where it's all landed. We feel as though that top six and the way they complement each other gives us the best opportunity to maximize (scores). We're very comfortable with Smudge at the top of the order and then seeing Cameron Green back out there in the field, with ball and bat in hand was great to see as well. So we're optimistic that they will work. And I suppose hindsight will tell us everything,” McDonald was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Australia to release Matt Renshaw ahead of second Test
The team management could release Matt Renshaw to play for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. Notably, the selectors took a massive gamble by releasing the cricketer on Day 2 of the first Test as they were left with no backup batter. Interestingly, Usman Khawaja had to leave the field early on Day 3 after the ball hit his jaw but the hosts didn’t have a concussion substitute. Even though it didn’t bother the team, there was a risk factor.
Meanwhile, despite the scare, the team management is likely to release Renshaw again, especially when Khawaja passed the first concussion test.
“We consider the risk when we release players and I think it's about 0.5% chance in terms of a concussion happening. So it was ironic that the first time we've let a player go back during the Big Bash that there was a head knock. Fortunately enough, the game was in a position where we thought that it wasn't going to be a higher risk than necessary. So we were happy for Renners to go back and perform for the Heat,” McDonald said.
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