Matthew Hayden Wants Matt Renshaw in Australia’s XI for Second Test
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has publicly urged that Matt Renshaw be included in Australia’s squad for the second Test against Bangladesh on August 22 at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena. Renshaw is currently not a member of Australia’s team for the Bangladesh series.
Hayden spoke after Bangladesh won the first Test against Australia by nine wickets in Darwin from August 13 to 16. The outcome of the Mackay Test has raised focus on Australia’s batting lineup, raising major concerns about the top order’s makeup.
Hayden added that he wants to see the left-hander open the batting at the Test level and that he has been advocating for Renshaw’s selection for over a year. As part of a bigger makeover at the top of the order, he suggested moving Travis Head to third.
What did Matthew Hayden say about the batting order concerns confronting Australia?
Matthew Hayden identified two major difficulties with Australia’s batting lineup: the difficulty in forming a consistent opening combination and Marnus Labuschagne’s repeated bad record at number three.
Hayden questioned what would happen if the same combination was used in Mackay and throughout the Australian summer, given Labuschagne’s terrible history over the last two years. He has averaged 25.32 over his last 42 innings; in 2025, he was excluded from the team to travel to the West Indies.
“I think you have to start somewhere. You have to ask yourself, who are we and where are we focusing our attention first? Is it one of the openers or the number three position? Because the number three place has been a major question. Marnus Labuschagne has been in that sort of form for the past two years.
What will change overnight, not only when we travel to Mackay, but also when the first test match of the Australian Summer takes place? Or do we focus on the fact that Travis Head faces a struggle at the top of the order?” Matthew Hayden told 7Cricket.
What specific modifications to the Mackay Test did Matthew Hayden propose?
Matthew Hayden’s preferred tactic is to promote Renshaw to the top of the lineup and Travis Head from opener to number three. He remarked that he is excited to see what the Queensland batter can do at the Test level, adding that Renshaw is “match fit.”
Renshaw, a talented spinner, had his final Test debut in India in 2023. In recent years, he has also been a consistent member of the white-ball teams. He suggests putting Travis Head at number three and looking for a refresh and refit at the top of the order.
I want to gain some experience at the top. I’ve been wanting to watch Renshaw for at least a year, and I believe he’s match suited. I believe the selectors understood who he was, but now I want to know who he truly is,” Matthew Hayden added.
