‘Belongs at the next level’: Khawaja backs ‘mini-me’ for Ashes opening gig

Australian opener Usman Khawaja has backed Queensland teammate Matthew Renshaw for a Test recall ahead of the Ashes, also arguing the in-form Marnus Labuschagne is better suited at No. 3.

Following a prolific couple of summers for the Bulls, Renshaw earned a national call-up for last week’s ODI series against India, posting scores of 21*, 30 and 56 against the Champions Trophy victors.

It comes after the 29-year-old started his summer with a century during Queensland’s Sheffield Shield opener against Tasmania in Brisbane, putting him firmly in the frame for an Ashes call-up.

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Renshaw will get a final opportunity to press his case for an Ashes berth during this week’s Sheffield Shield contest against New South Wales at the Gabba, with incumbent opener Sam Konstas and Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald also in contention.

Speaking to reporters in Brisbane on Monday afternoon, Khawaja declared that Renshaw was ready for another shot a Test cricket; he previously played 14 matches for Australia in the game’s longest format, accumulating 645 runs at 29.31 including a career-best 184 against Pakistan during the 2017 New Year’s Test at the SCG.

“He has not done himself any harm in the way he has played in the last three matches (against India),” Khawaja said of Renshaw.

“He’s looked the part, which he always does when he goes to the next level. You feel like he is the one guy who actually belongs at the next level.’’

He added: “Obviously I am a little biased because he’s a friend of mine and he has been there and done it. He has scored 180 for Australia. He has been in and out of the Australian team, and I think that’s a really good thing.’’

Khawaja, who also made his international debut at a young age, compared Renshaw’s Test journey to his own, acknowledging that both of them were in and out of the national set-up for several years due to fluctuating form.

The 38-year-old, who cracked twin hundreds during his triumphant Test return in early 2022, described Renshaw as his “mini-me”, predicting he would follow a similar path as himself by flourishing in the Australian side later in the career.

“He literally copies everything I do,” Khawaja laughed.

“He wears Nike shoes. He even lives five minutes from my house. But no, I’m really happy with the way he is going about his business.”

He continued: “I was out there worrying about everyone else and it was only when I started worrying about myself and enjoying life I started to play a lot better.

“Whether it’s now, or whether it’s later, whenever ‘Rennie’ gets his chance, hopefully which he will get again, I know he’ll be ready for it … he is in the best place to have a crack for Australia again.’’

If Australia picks two specialist openers for the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, Labuschagne would presumably return to his preferred position at No. 3 having been dropped ahead of the recent Frank Worrell Trophy campaign against the West Indies in the Caribbean. The right-hander has been in scintillating form this summer with four hundreds in five matches for Queensland, but he may be reinvented as an opener for the blockbuster series against England to create room for two all-rounders in the middle order.

“I love having Marnus as part of the team,” Khawaja said.

“He brings a lot of energy. Hopefully he will be back in the side. Our best side has Marnus in it every time.

“He is actually hitting less balls than he ever has. I have seen he is not hitting balls in the morning before a game which he has never done. He was normally in there for an hour. I think he is giving his brain a bit more of a rest.’’

Khawaja endorsed the possibility of an all-Queensland top three for the Ashes, which would squeeze either Cameron Green or Beau Webster out of the starting XI.

However, the former New South Wales representative was quick to point out neither of the trio were born in Queensland – Khawaja was born in Pakistan, Labuschagne in South Africa and Renshaw in England.

The Sheffield Shield clash between Queensland and New South Wales gets underway at the Gabba on Tuesday, with the first ball scheduled for 11am AEDT.

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