Follow UsCricket Australia (CA) announced on January 17 (Wednesday) that 27-year-old batter Matt Renshaw has been released from the Australian squad to play in the BBL qualifier. Renshaw, who represents the Brisbane Heat, will be available for selection ahead of their clash against Sydney Sixers.
However, if the Australian batter gets concussed, then there would be no replacement for the national team on the third day of the ongoing Adelaide Test. The left-handed Renshaw is the only spare batter in the Australian squad for the first Test, with Steve Smith taking David Warner’s place at the top of the order, and Cameron Green slotting in at No.4.
That being said, the left-handed Renshaw would return on Saturday (January 20) after the clash against the Sixers. In the past, Australia have only used two concussion substitutes, with one of them being Renshaw himself, with the left-handed opener featuring in the Delhi Test against India last year, replacing David Warner.
Marnus Labuschagne has been used twice, once in the 2019 Ashes against England and the other occasion coming in the 2023 three-match ODI series against South Africa, where he replaced Cameron Green.