'He's one of the best cricketers': Matt Renshaw delivers simple answer to top order debate amid calls for Usman Khawaja to be dropped
Matt Renshaw may be one of the top contenders to replace Usman Khawaja in the top order for the second Ashes Test, but he does not want to see his teammate omitted.
An impressive run of results by Renshaw in the Sheffield Shield could not be overlooked by Australian selectors leading into the Ashes, with his recent century for Queensland against Victoria only pushing his case to play in the second Test.
It remains unclear which direction selectors will lean when it comes to the top order in the pink-ball Test, with calls for the injured Khawaja to be axed growing louder.
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Matt Renshaw celebrates 100 runs in the Sheffield Shield against Victoria. Getty
Khawaja has seemingly been unbothered by criticism of his pre-Ashes choices, which included playing a round of golf in the lead-up to the first Test.
Had it not been for a remarkable match-winning century from Travis Head, it will forever be unknown how Australia would have gone in the second innings.
But Renshaw believes the top order selection debate has a simple answer.
"Definitely," he replied when asked if Khawaja should stay put.
"He has got an average of over 40 in Test cricket, he's played 85 games, he's one of our best batters.
"I just think he's one of the best cricketers that Australia's ever produced."
Usman Khawaja exits the ground on day two of the first Test. Getty
The 29-year-old then warned selectors to consider every option before making the decision to play Head as an opener on a permanent basis.
"It is one innings that he has opened the batting," Renshaw said.
"Sometimes we all wish that we could go out there and play like that. Then you think about it and you get out, so it's a lot different."
Meanwhile, England departed for Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon, putting on a united front for all who were eager to catch a glimpse of the team at the airport.
The decision for England to not send more players to Canberra to face the PM's XI has divided experts following the result of the first Test, but captain Ben Stokes was in no mood to steer his focus away from what the team is on Australian soil for.
"We're thinking about what we need to do in Brisbane, mate," he said.
Former captain Joe Root had a similar response.
"I mean, we're preparing as best we can and we' look forward to the next game," Root added.
