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“Can only blame themselves”: Paine responds to Renshaw’s opener selection comments
Lachlan Geleit • November 18th, 2024 2:00 pm
Queensland’s Matt Renshaw thinks that Nathan McSweeney’s selection as Australia’s newest opener might have hurt a lot of top-order Sheffield Shield batters.
While Renshaw thinks that McSweeney will do a terrific job at the top of the order, he stated that players like himself who bat at number one and two wouldn’t have loved seeing South Australia’s No. 3 picked to play in a role he doesn’t undertake at state level.
Renshaw – who has played 14 Tests – made his comments after making 121 in the Shield clash against Tasmania at Allan Border Field on Sunday.
“It feels like every summer there is a circus about something, and it is usually about the openers because Australian cricket wants another opener,” Renshaw told the *AAP*
“I am really happy for Nathan. I think he is going to do a terrific job but for us openers, I think (the decision) last week might have hurt a lot of us.
“We know how tough opening is and the satisfaction of batting for a long period of time is why we do the job, facing the toughest bowlers with a brand-new ball at their freshest.”
While he loved seeing Renshaw get back into some form, former Australian Test captain Tim Paine doesn’t feel sorry for the Queenslander or any other state openers that missed out on selection given they could have won the vacant spot by making runs in the early part of the Shield season.
Renshaw in particular started his campaign with scores of 6, 15, 2, 21 and 25 before passing triple figures against Tassie.
“He’s a lovely man, 'Renners', and it’s great to see him back in form, but the openers around the country can only blame themselves for Nathan McSweeney being given the opportunity,” Paine told *SEN Tassie*.
“It was there for the taking, and none of them did it.
“Isn't it a fascinating mental game though? As soon as that team is named, even in one game here, you have two openers come out smack huge hundreds.”
McSweeney will open for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja during the first Test against India in Perth which begins on Friday.
While Renshaw thinks that McSweeney will do a terrific job at the top of the order, he stated that players like himself who bat at number one and two wouldn’t have loved seeing South Australia’s No. 3 picked to play in a role he doesn’t undertake at state level.
Renshaw – who has played 14 Tests – made his comments after making 121 in the Shield clash against Tasmania at Allan Border Field on Sunday.
“It feels like every summer there is a circus about something, and it is usually about the openers because Australian cricket wants another opener,” Renshaw told the *AAP*
“I am really happy for Nathan. I think he is going to do a terrific job but for us openers, I think (the decision) last week might have hurt a lot of us.
“We know how tough opening is and the satisfaction of batting for a long period of time is why we do the job, facing the toughest bowlers with a brand-new ball at their freshest.”
While he loved seeing Renshaw get back into some form, former Australian Test captain Tim Paine doesn’t feel sorry for the Queenslander or any other state openers that missed out on selection given they could have won the vacant spot by making runs in the early part of the Shield season.
Renshaw in particular started his campaign with scores of 6, 15, 2, 21 and 25 before passing triple figures against Tassie.
“He’s a lovely man, 'Renners', and it’s great to see him back in form, but the openers around the country can only blame themselves for Nathan McSweeney being given the opportunity,” Paine told *SEN Tassie*.
“It was there for the taking, and none of them did it.
“Isn't it a fascinating mental game though? As soon as that team is named, even in one game here, you have two openers come out smack huge hundreds.”
McSweeney will open for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja during the first Test against India in Perth which begins on Friday.
