Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Why non-selection wouldn't be the end of Renshaw
Nicholas Quinlan • November 3rd, 2025 4:31 pm
Robert Craddock believes that Matthew Renshaw will likely become the replacement for Usman Khawaja, once the 38-year-old decides to retire from Test cricket.
Renshaw, 29, debuted for Australia in 2016 and has been in the selection wilderness for the majority of his international career, having only played four Test matches since 2017.
But with a knock of 106 in an ODI for Australia A against Sri Lanka A and a score of 128 runs in his first innings of this season’s Sheffield Shield, the Queenslander has put himself back on the radar for selectors ahead of the Ashes, whilst also getting selected for the ODI series against India.
But while the experienced sports journalist has Jake Weatherald ahead of Renshaw to start this summer, he believes it’s only a matter of time before he features in his first Test match for Australia since 2023.
“I just feel that Renshaw, and he is still in the equation, he is bonded with Khawaja,” Craddock explained on SEN’s Whateley.
“They see each other all the time; they call him Khawaja’s shadow. So, there is that.
“I’ve always sort of felt that Renshaw’s chance will come when Khawaja retires, probably not before hand, and that's coming up, that could be three months away.
“So, he becomes the new Khawaja, that sort of anchor man.
“(But) even though they are great buddies, I just feel that Renshaw hasn’t done quite enough, and wherever he goes, I felt Weatherald had him covered.
“I know Weatherald failed twice last week and that didn’t help him at all, but he’s had a pretty solid 18 months.”
Gerard Whateley would agree with Craddock, believing that the Tasmanian representative’s body of work in recent times is superior to Renshaw’s, despite his last showing against Victoria.
“When you have to split the hairs, I’ve always had Weatherald ahead of Renshaw,” Whateley said.
“And nothing this summer has changed that. I didn’t like Weatherald at the Junction Oval; he didn’t bat well in either innings but he has batted well prior to that.”
But Craddock was quick to reinforce his point that Renshaw will play for Australia in the Test arena once again.
“It’s not the end of the road for Renshaw if he misses out,” he added.
“As I said, they’ve (the selectors) always had a soft spot for him; he’s 29. He’s in a vacuum where he alone is.
“There are very few batsmen of that ilk.”
The Australian squad for The Ashes is set to be announced in the not-so-distant future, with both players having one more Shield match before the First Test on November 21.
The First Test will be played at Optus Stadium in Perth.
