Australia call up Renshaw for India ODIs before Ashes

Australia call up English-born batter Matthew Renshaw for their forthcoming one-day international series against India - one of their final assignments before the Ashes.

Matthew Renshaw
Matthew Renshaw scored his only Test century for Australia against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2017 [Getty Images]

Australia have called up batter Matthew Renshaw for their forthcoming one-day international series against India.

Renshaw has never played an ODI but has been included in the squad for the three matches in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney on 19, 23 and 25 October.

The ODIs against India are followed by five T20s and represent Australia's final international commitments before the 2025-26 Ashes series against England.

Renshaw has played 14 Tests for Australia and has scored 645 runs in 24 innings at an average of 29.31 but has never played in an Ashes series.

The 29-year-old left-hander last played for Australia in a Test series in India in February 2023 where he made scores of 0, two and two batting at five.

England have already named their squad for the Ashes but the Aussies are not expected to announce their party until closer to the first Test at Perth which starts on 21 November.

The make up of Australia's top order has been the subject of debate, particularly who will open the batting with Usman Khawaja and who will slot in at number three.

Travis Head, Steve Smith, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne have all been tried as openers.

Renshaw, who was born in Middlesbrough to English parents before the family emigrated, was selected in Australia's ODI squad to face Pakistan in 2022 but did not make an appearance.

He is picked for the India series on the back of scores of 80, 106 and 62 for Australia A in three List A one-day matches against Sri Lanka A in July.

Renshaw underlined his red-ball credentials with 128 - his 25th first-class century - opening the batting for Queensland in a drawn Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania between 4 and 7 October.

Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 160 for Queensland in the same match, has not been included in an otherwise full-strength Australia squad for the ODI series with India.

Australia chair of selectors George Bailey said: "We have named a squad for the ODI series and first two games of the T20 series as there will be some management through the back end of the series as individuals prepare for the summer through Sheffield Shield cricket.

"The majority of the T20 squad will remain together as it's an important period in the build towards the World Cup next year.

"However, we are trying to strike a balance to ensure we simultaneously prepare certain individuals for the Test series ahead."

There will be commentary on the India series and the Ashes on BBC Sounds.

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Owen, Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Australia T20 squad for first two matches: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Category: General Sports