Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw believes the form of ageless pair David Warner and Usman Khawaja proves that time will still be on his side for a Test recall even if he’s overlooked by national selectors this summer.
With 37-year-old Warner set to retire from Test cricket after Australia’s SCG clash with Pakistan in January, there will be vacancy at the top of the order for two-Test series against the West Indies starting later that month.
Renshaw, 27, seems locked in a three-way battle for the spot with Victoria’s Marcus Harris and Western Australia’s Cameron Bancroft.
“I don’t really think too much about it,” Renshaw insisted on Monday.
“It feels like every time I get asked to do media it’s always about that but I can’t control it.
“It’s well out of my control. I’ve just got to try to score runs.
“Every time you got out to bat you want to score runs, but whatever happens, happens. I’ve been of that mindset for the last few years now.”
Renshaw has been impressed by Warner’s good form at the Cricket World Cup,
In nine matches at the one-day international tournament, Warner has scored 499 runs at an average of 55.44 and a strike rate of 105.49.
“He’s just going beautifully … we’re fortunate as an Australian public to have him as an opener,” said Renshaw, who added he was also inspired by 36-year-old Khawaja’s form alongside fellow opener Warner in the Test arena.
“Him (Warner) and `Ussie’ at the moment, they’re performing so well at the age they’re at, where probably in the past they would have been forced out of the team or retired by now,” he said.
“It’s great to see that your career’s never over until you call it.
“That’s something for us cricketers – we know that the life of a cricket career is probably a bit longer now, which is nice, especially with all the formats around the world.”
Renshaw and Queensland return to Sheffield Shield action on Thursday against Victoria at the MCG.
The Bulls have lost successive tight matches to Tasmania and South Australia but Renshaw said there was no panic in the Queensland camp.
We know we’re playing good cricket, but unfortunately the results haven’t gone our way in the past two games,” he said.
“It’s just about being able to turn those results in the tight games into wins.
“There’s still plenty of time left in the season. We’ve got six games left and we know that plenty can happen in those games.”
Originally published as Matthew Renshaw takes comfort from lengthy careers of David Warner and Usman Khawaja