'What this team has been crying out for' - Renshaw 190 lifts Australia

- Published

First Test, Durban (day two of five)

Australia 390: Renshaw 190, Cummins 43; Mulder 4-68

South Africa: Yet to bat

Matt Renshaw scored an epic first Test century in more than nine years to put Australia in control of the first Test in their highly anticipated series against South Africa.

After much talk about the issues among their ageing top order on day one, Renshaw ground out a majestic career-best 190 from 397 balls in Durban, emphatically pushing his case to be part of Australia's future.

The 30-year-old was born in Middlesbrough and a childhood friend of England captain Joe Root - their fathers played together in English club cricket - before his parents left the UK for New Zealand and then Australia when he was seven.

As well as potentially match-defining innings, having dragged Australia from 124-6 to 390 all out, it was a statement knock from Renshaw who has had an in-out international career.

He scored 184 in his fourth Test against Pakistan in January 2017 after being handed a debut aged 20, but averaged 19.41 across 10 Tests before being recalled earlier this year.

Against South Africa, the left-hander hit only three boundaries on day one - he attacked only 14.2% of deliveries in making his first 50 runs, the lowest figure of the Australia's top order. A throwback innings continued as he left well throughout day two, largely scoring square or behind the wicket.

He extended his partnership with captain Pat Cummins in the morning session to 86 and then expertly controlled a stand of 134 with number 10 Nathan Lyon to frustrate and tire South Africa's bowlers.

Renshaw took the strike when needed, protecting Lyon from the pace of Anrich Nortje, but became increasingly aggressive to add boundaries and inflict further pain as the partnership grew.

He added a further 21 alongside number 11 Josh Hazlewood before falling in the first over after tea, leaving South Africa 22 overs to bat and losing opener Ryan Rickelton for a three-ball duck.

Australia's top-order dilemma

Renshaw's superb innings has left Australia well placed to push for victory on a pitch that flattened out on day two, but is expected to take turn later in the Test.

This series has been eagerly anticipated, given it is a repeat of last year's World Test Championship final, which was won by the Proteas.

It is also the third in a possible 21 Tests for Australia before the end of the Ashes next summer and, while Renshaw has surely secured his immediate future at least, his knock does not alleviate all questions over the make-up of their side.

When he was recalled in August it was in place of Jake Weatherald as opener, but he was moved down to number five for this Test when Cameron Green was ruled out.

Nic Maddinson came in at the top of the order alongside Travis Head, giving Australia an 11th different opening partnership since the retirement of David Warner.

With Green, the regular number five, expected to return and Maddinson making a 33-ball duck on day one, a solution to their top-order struggles would be to move Renshaw up again.

That would reunite him with Head, who made the surprise move to opener to impressive effect in the Ashes - he flogged England for centuries in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney - but has also shown vulnerability in failing to pass 22 in his four innings since.