Former Test opener Matt Renshaw pounded 150 as spinner Mitchell Swepson took another bag for Queensland

A century from former Test opener Matt Renshaw and five more wickets for spinner Mitch Swepson compounded South Australia’s Sheffield Shield woes.

Queensland leggie Mitchell Swepson took his third straight five-wicket haul, this time against South Australia in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

While the spotlight shone brightly on Will Pucovski, down the road the last youngster anointed as a long-term Test opener was making his first Sheffield Shield hundred in two-and-a-half years.

Matt Renshaw’s unbeaten 168 against South Australia at Glenelg on Monday broke a century drought stretching back to March, 2018, when he made 143 not out against West Australia.

A lot has happened since then: he’s fallen out of Test contention, been dropped by the Bulls, and – exhausted by the constant grind — briefly farewelled cricket.

Renshaw considered a fresh start with the Redbacks in the off-season but his decision to stay in Queensland has been vindicated by a long overdue hundred.

And how the Redbacks could have done with him in their top six, after they plumbed a new low to be 9-154 in reply to Queensland’s 5-496 (dec).

Mitchell Swepson took 5-55 – his third five-for in a row — to streak away at the top of the competition wicket-takers list with 20 in three games.

Renshaw said it took time to adjust to his new middle order slot, especially being made to wait for a bat.

“It was pretty nerve-racking overnight,” he said after play Monday. “I was thinking about it a little bit.

“It’s nice to get a hundred on the board after a long time without one.”

Renshaw felt refreshed by the break he took from the game last summer.

“I’ve definitely got a different perspective. I’m trying to be a lot more relaxed and not put too much pressure on myself.”

Renshaw’s decline, fall and resurgence sounds a salutary note as the calls to elevate Pucovski to the Test side reach fever pitch.

And a footnote, if not an asterisk, hangs from Renshaw’s 168, as it came against a Redbacks attack that’s asking few questions and is all out of answers.

Mitch Swepson makes it three five-wicket hauls in a row! #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/Bp6b2Y0DXH

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 9, 2020

Chadd Sayers has bowled beautifully at times this season – and never better than his 3-27 from 29 overs against Queensland – but seven wickets at 46.42 is way below his usual mark.

After Sayers the bowling falls away rapidly. Lloyd Pope’s eight wickets have come at 84.25 apiece, while Wes Agar’s two have come at 214.50.

Liam Scott, 19, shows promise with the bat but one wicket at 228 are not the numbers of a genuine all-rounder.

Like Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson didn’t waste the golden opportunity presented by the wretched Redbacks – he celebrated a maiden century (109 from 125 balls) in his 38th first-class match.

SA was 2-115 when Travis Head was lbw to Swepson to trigger an all-too familiar collapse.

In his farewell Shield match, Callum Ferguson was not out 11 at stumps after every batsman that followed failed to reach double figures. Ferguson resumes on Tuesday with Pope (0 not out).

The Redbacks have conceded 400-plus first innings scores in each of their four games, but they’re not alone on that score – 10 totals of more than 400 have been posted in the nine Shield matches so far this season.

South Australian captain Travis Head was under the pump in the field and then with the bat too against Queensland. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images)