Australia under pressure to protect Matthew Renshaw from further concussions

MATTHEW Renshaw might prove his fitness for the first Test but Australia is now under pressure to keep the opener out of harm’s way against Pakistan.

Matthew Renshaw is unlikely to be asked to field at short leg against Pakistan in the first Test. Picture: Jono Searle.

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MATTHEW Renshaw might prove his fitness for the first Test but Australia is now under pressure to keep the opener out of harm’s way against Pakistan.

Renshaw has a history of concussion and in hindsight Australia might be questioning the wisdom of fielding him under the helmet at short leg in their tour match in Dubai where he was struck at point-blank range.

The 22-year-old is showing significant improvement from concussion symptoms and there is optimism he will be fit to take on Pakistan in the first Test on Sunday.

There is still five days until a decision would need to be made on his availability, however, it would appear highly doubtful Renshaw could field under the helmet again, at least in the short term, and he may return to the safety of the slips.

The typically unwanted and unglamorous short leg position was coveted by Cameron

Bancroft, but in his absence, the job would traditionally go to the least experienced player in the dressing room.

Matthew Renshaw is unlikely to be asked to field at short leg against Pakistan in the first Test. Picture: Jono Searle.

Shaun Marsh could probably do without the added stress given his history of back and hamstring problems, meaning Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja may have to become serious considerations.

Renshaw was forced to sit out the second innings of the third Test against Pakistan in Sydney last year after suffering two blows to the head and was also forced to withdraw from a Sheffield Shield match earlier this year following a head knock.

Matt Renshaw is dazed after being hit on the head against Pakistan last year. Picture: Mark Evans

Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann told Fox Sports he felt the Queenslander would be “extremely doubtful” to face Pakistan after being ruled out of the one and only tour match against Pakistan A in Dubai.

But members of the Australian camp are more optimistic.

“It’s never nice to see someone get hit in the head, but from what I’ve heard from the doctor he’s getting better and better,” said vice-captain Mitch Marsh.

Aaron Finch is a contender to field at short leg. Picture: AAP

“He seems in good spirits now. It’s always a bit of a shock to see someone go down like that but from all reports he’s all good now.”

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia is expected to announce their new chief executive on Wednesday with Kevin Roberts and John Warn understood to be the two final candidates.

Roberts would appear to be the favourite, in what would be a highly controversial move given the way he got players so offside during last year’s bitter pay war.

The first job facing the new chief executive will be to make a decision on the future of Pat Howard as high performance manager.

Howard still holds support on the board but his job will be put under the blow torch when CA’s cultural review is handed down later this month.

Other members of senior management will also come under serious pressure to hold their positions under a new boss.

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Originally published as Australia under pressure to protect Matthew Renshaw from further concussions