If the choice to ask Nic Maddinson to open in Durban was a bust, the upside for Australia was that it pushed Matthew Renshaw down to number five. From there, the Queenslander returned from 10 years on the periphery to the centre of the spotlight in the first Test against South Africa, with an innings of 190 that saved Australia from peril, settled them into stability, then lifted them to dominance.
Staunch support from the lower order was the other part of the equation, as Renshaw batted through two extended sessions until he was last man out, just after tea, with Australia’s 390 followed by South Africa’s 27 for one before stumps.
Imagine the likelihood, with the score at 124 for six on the first day, that Renshaw might go on, not just to score his second Test century, but to exceed that career high of 184? His secret was that there was no secret, just the most common formula known to the game: patience, concentration and pacing. Continuing in the style of his unbeaten 46 from day one, Renshaw defended calmly, kept the score moving with singles and picked off the odd poor ball.
He was aided by an often passive approach to fielding, despite some tough spells of bowling from Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje. Resuming after 65 overs, they had a morning burst with the old ball, then a short rest before the new one, often dropping short and hitting gloves or body. But it was the more modest velocity and bounce of Wiaan Mulder in between times that reaped rewards.
Pat Cummins carried on the previous day’s partnership to 86, but lost concentration eight overs into the morning to poke the old ball to slip for 43. With the slightest bit of inswing from the new ball, Mulder bowled Mitchell Starc an unplayable that pitched on leg stump before seaming away to take middle and off.
At 230 for eight, South Africa would have imagined a quick finish, but Temba Bavuma let things drift by spreading the field for Renshaw. Against players with the right temperament, this tactic often backfires, and so it was here. Renshaw happily defended or added a few runs early in each over, turned over strike from the fourth or fifth ball, and watched Nathan Lyon defend what was left.
Lyon did not score for 16 overs either side of lunch, facing 24 balls. When Renshaw for once failed to farm the strike, Nortje immediately came back on to target Lyon, Australia’s spinner flicked him for four.
By the second session the pitch had gone to sleep and with it went the South African bowling. Even with two specialist spinners in the side, part-timer Aiden Markram was called upon. Lyon had never been part of a century stand, but up that landmark came: no cricketer has played more Tests than his 144 before achieving that feat.
When Jansen finally ended his team’s pain by dishing some out, smashing Lyon in the foot with a fierce yorker from around the wicket, the partnership was 134, Australia’s second-highest for the ninth wicket.
Lyon made 27 from 92 balls and Renshaw was up to 169. He went up a gear, uppercutting Nortje for six and nailing a pull for four. Josh Hazlewood was able to help him bat through a monster session, ending up at two hours and 45 minutes after one extension to make up lost overs and a second one for being nine wickets down.
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Renshaw fell two balls after the resumption, driving the off-spinner Simon Harmer to slip, but it had been a flawless innings otherwise. It set records for Durban: the highest score by an Australian, past the Phil Hughes 160 that is part of folklore; and the highest score by any batter at five or below, past the 2019 Kusal Perera epic that was Ben Stokes at Headingley before Ben Stokes went to Headingley.
Australia bowled fewer than nine overs in the last session before bad light once again stopped play, although that was enough time for Hazlewood to have Ryan Rickelton edge a drive to slip from a ball that was not full enough. South Africa will start the third day 363 runs behind.
For Renshaw, though, the day was eventful enough. Treated as a prodigy at 20 years old, then discarded summarily by 21, he has loitered on the sidelines with occasional nibbles at a Test return. Now he will get a proper second chance.
His century celebration was chiefly a smile of vast relief. At nine years and 280 days, the only Australians to have waited longer between hundreds are monochrome memories, Bob Simpson and Warren Bardsley.
Where Renshaw bats next may still be an open question, as the shuttle continues between number five and opening. Usman Khawaja went from five to the top, then Travis Head did the same to replace him. Renshaw was just shunted from opening to five, but may soon have to go back to accommodate Cam Green, who was the most convincing batter in Australia’s previous series but is injured. That will be next week’s problem. Renshaw is this week’s solution.
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