SEN Cricket’s Damien Fleming has raised his concerns about the changes to the Australian Test line-up as the hosts open the batting at the SCG.
Australia announced three changes to the team ahead of the final Test match, with the biggest surprise coming in Matt Renshaw's recall to the side, with the 26-year-old set to bat at six.
In his past stints with the Test side, Renshaw had opened the batting and has maintained his position in and around the top of the order at the domestic level.
With Renshaw’s selection leaving Australia lacking depth in the fast-bowling department, Fleming shared his thoughts on how Australia should have picked the team.
“I personally would have had Carey at six, Agar at seven and Boland playing, I don’t know about the whole strategy with Matty Renshaw batting at six...” Fleming said on SEN Test Cricket.
“He’s going to be an opener for Australia again and unless Dave Warner is retiring after this Test match, I can’t see any changes to our batting if Cam Green is fit.”
Green is now racing the clock to regain fitness for the tour of India after suffering a finger fracture during the Boxing Day Test.
“Renshaw is not going to be a middle-order player, I thought it might have been worth playing someone who might bat in the middle order in India,” Fleming continued.
“They’ve mentioned Pete Handscomb (at six)… for Marcus Harris it’s a whole summer of just watching cricket isn’t it.”
Despite questioning Renshaw’s selection at six, Fleming praised his improvements in all forms of crickets.
“Matty Renshaw has made himself a better all-round player, he opened up and has a Test hundred,” the former fast bowler added.
“(He) then batted in the middle order for Queensland and now he’s gone up the top, he’s made himself quite an adaptable player.
“What I like when he does eventually open for Australia again because Usman (Khawaja) and Dave (Warner) are (in their) mid-30s, I think he’d play fast-bowling well and play spin well.
“But he’s never going to be middle order player, so even that I find a bit bizarre.”
Renshaw’s return to the Test team has been put under some speculation after he tested positive for COVID before play on day one.