Contender for Khawaja's Test spot calls him one of Australia's best ever – abc.net.au

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Sport
Topic:Cricket
Usman Khawaja faces increasing pressure to retain his spot in Australia's Test side for the second Test at the Gabba. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
Matt Renshaw has thrown his support behind Queensland teammate Usman Khawaja, who is under pressure to retain his Test spot.
Renshaw called Khawaja "one of the best cricketers that Australia's ever produced" ahead of the second Ashes Test.
Khawaja is recovering from back issues and is no certainty to retain his spot in Australia's XI for the second Test against England at the Gabba next week.
Matt Renshaw has declared Usman Khawaja one of the best batters Australia has ever produced, backing his Queensland teammate to prevent him from being recalled to the Test team.
After struggling with back spasms in Perth, Khawaja is under pressure to save his career, given he has been out of form and turns 39 in December.
But Renshaw, fresh off a match-winning century for the Bulls against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, believes Khawaja still has what it takes to face England's fast and furious pace attack in the Ashes.
"He's got an average over 40 in Test cricket, he's played 85 games, he's one of our best batters," Renshaw told reporters at the Australian PGA pro-am at Royal Queensland on Wednesday.
Matt Renshaw has been in tremendous form for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield this season. (Getty Images: Albert Perez)
"He's one of the best cricketers that Australia's ever produced."
Khawaja was supposed to be the Queensland cricketer at the pro-am, but his back issues meant he was replaced by Renshaw.
The 38-year-old is being assessed further now that he is back in Brisbane, as the back problems are unusual and only flared up on day one.
Khawaja's spasms forced to him bat at number four in the first innings, then he was not required in the stunning day two run chase.
Travis Head awes multiple cricket legends with a stunning century in the first Test against England, offering Australia hope that he may well fill what looked like a gaping hole at the top of the batting order.
Travis Head's extraordinary 123 when replacing Khawaja as opener in the second innings has prompted calls for the number five to move up the order permanently.
But if Australia replace Khawaja and do want a traditional long-form opener, then Renshaw is perfectly placed to do the job.
Renshaw played the last of his 14 Tests in February 2023, when he was a concussion replacement for David Warner during a giant collapse against India in Delhi.
The left-hander made 112 against the Vics under lights at the Gabba this week, which followed a century and a 51 in his previous Shield outing.
Australia's next Test will be played with a pink ball in Brisbane, starting December 4.
Since 2021, Renshaw has fired in day-night first-class matches, scoring 312 runs at 62.40 with two centuries from three games.
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"I'm happy the Queensland selectors probably saw that," he said of his latest Shield century.
"Knowing that we won the game for Queensland was something that was pretty special.
"We had a few guys missing in that Test squad, so knowing that, as a senior batter for Queensland, standing up and doing my job and getting the win at midnight on day three was pretty nice."
Having two children — Charlotte and Edward — has helped take the stress off wondering if he will receive another Test call-up.
"Definitely handling it a lot better nowadays, there's a lot more calm in my life," Renshaw said.
"Old Matt Renshaw wouldn't have had to go home and change nappies or wake up in the morning and go to a kids sport game.
"Stuff like that definitely changes your perspective on a lot of things, so just enjoying where my life is at the moment."
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