Shield Wrap: Matt Renshaw stars as Beau Webster, Cameron Green Ashes battle heats up

Australia’s decision to name an early Ashes squad could come under scrutiny, as one overlooked batsman posted a career-revitalising century, while a contentious pick continued to struggle.

Australia’s decision to name an early Ashes squad was left open to scrutiny after Matt Renshaw made a career-revitalising century, while Jake Weatherald continued to stutter.

Renshaw, backed by the likes of Greg Chappell, Matt Hayden and David Warner posted a big century for Queensland against Western Australia on Tuesday but it was too little too late after selectors last week overlooked him for Weatherald.

The Tasmanian has had a middling but far from outstanding start to the domestic season and although Weatherald has been picked on the strength of his past 12 months of run-scoring, it’s not ideal that he will go into the furnace of an Ashes debut with a highest score of 30 from his past four knocks.

Matthew Renshaw celebrates his century during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

In a further complication for Australia 10 days out from the Ashes opener in Perth, under-pressure all-rounder Beau Webster collected a five-wicket haul for Tasmania, although it seems unlikely to be enough to save him from the axe with Cameron Green making a convincing comeback to bowling.

Green was on track to meet the selectors’ quota of 15-20 overs for the match, after taking a wicket with just the 13th ball of the eight overs he delivered before tea on day one of WA’s clash with Queensland at the WACA.

Beau Webster reminded selectors of his all-round prowess on Tuesday. Picture: Getty

The big all-rounder was wayward at times but bowled with serious pace and at one point rapped Renshaw on the fingers, causing him to reel away in agony.

Provided Green can get through the match unscathed it appears increasingly likely he will take Webster’s spot at No.6 and Weatherald will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order with in-form star Marnus Labuschagne (50 for Queensland) locked in at his preferred No.3 position.

Selectors flagged a long way out that they would settle on their first Test squad after the third round of the Sheffield Shield, paving the way for 14 of the 15 players to play round four of the competition with the freedom of knowing they’d been already been picked.

However, there is another school of thought, one which was pushed by Fox Cricket expert Brendan Julian from the outset who said selectors should be giving themselves the full four rounds of Shield before locking themselves into a decision on the first Test squad.

Cameron Green celebrates the wicket of Angus Lovell in the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

Renshaw’s hundred would back up Julian’s theory, although it could be argued the fact he wasn’t playing for an Ashes spot might have helped him release the shackles and smash his second ton of the summer.

In any case, 14-Test player Renshaw, at 29 years of age, is now undoubtedly in the box seat to enter the Ashes fray later in the series if Australia makes a change at the top of the order.

Renshaw is certainly favoured to be the ideal replacement for his close Queensland mate, Khawaja when his Test career ultimately comes to an end.

At the SCG, there were positives for Australia in captain Steve Smith following up with his last-start hundred with another half century on an otherwise disastrous day for NSW who capitulated around him.

Steve Smith got himself another half century as the rest of the NSW team capitulated. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Test paceman Scott Boland was superb with the new ball, knocking over Sam Konstas, while Nathan Lyon earlier joined Mitchell Starc with four-first innings wickets for the Blues in a positive first-Test tune up.

Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey made a sterling half century of his own in an otherwise low-scoring match between South Australia and Tasmania in Hobart.

Weatherald made scores of 23 and 30 for the match, and although he didn’t go on with the job, selectors will be pleased with the clip at which he scored.

Australia appear determined to play the specialist opener, largely due to a belief the team is best balanced with Labuschagne at No.3 and Green as the all-rounder at No.6.

Webster’s best chance of surviving the axe would appear to be if Green struggles to prove his fitness as a bowler and selectors decide leave Green out until he can pay his way as an all-rounder.

But the signs are Green is halfway through booking his place and Webster is set to be a hard luck story.