Australia has made a change to their squad for the second and final Test against Bangladesh, deciding to drop opener Jake Weatherald after a tough performance in the first match. He has been replaced by left-handed batter Matthew Renshaw for the upcoming Test in Mackay.
In the first Test, Weatherald scored just 23 runs in one innings and didn’t score in the other, contributing to Australia getting bowled out for only 198 runs in their first innings. Renshaw, on the other hand, is making a return to Test cricket after more than three years, having last played this format in Delhi in early 2023.
Renshaw’s last appearance was as a concussion substitute for David Warner. Since then, he has been part of Australia’s limited-overs squads, playing in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). His inclusion gives Australia a fresh option at the top of the batting order, especially after the team faced challenges against Bangladesh.
Australia still has Marnus Labuschagne in the squad, even though he has been struggling to score runs. In the second innings of the first Test, he managed 31 runs, but coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged that Labuschagne needs to do better.
“He scored 31, which is not a huge score, but he looked good until he got out,” McDonald said. “He was playing well, but we all know he needs to find more runs. He feels it, and we feel it. Our coaching team is working hard with him.”
The rest of the Australian squad remains mostly the same, with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and fast bowler Scott Boland acting as reserves. The second Test is set to start in Mackay on August 22, with Australia looking to bounce back after being challenged by Bangladesh in the first match.
Australia’s Squad for the 2nd Test vs. Bangladesh: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
