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Renshaw given tall order for India

Aussie opener seeks out Matthew Hayden's advice and looks to exploit a height advantage

Australia Test opener Matthew Renshaw says he plans to use his height to his advantage against the spinners when the four-Test Qantas Tour of India gets underway later this month.

Renshaw also confirmed he sought the advice of champion batsman Matthew Hayden before embarking on his maiden tour of the subcontinent.

Hayden, who averaged more than 50 in Tests in India, spent hours mastering his sweep shot before his breakout Test series in 2001, where he plundered 549 runs in three matches.

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As a 191cm left-handed opening batsman from Queensland, Renshaw has drawn comparisons to Hayden, and hopes to use those similar physical attributes to his advantage during the tour of India.

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"I’ve had a couple of conversations with (Hayden) over the phone and he told me to embrace it over there and get as much experience as I can,” Renshaw said from Australia’s pre-tour training camp in Dubai on Wednesday.

"I’m 20 years old and I’m going to one of the hardest places to play in the world, so I’m trying to embrace it and enjoy the challenge.

"The sweep will be a big one for me and trying to stay slow and use my reach as a tall bloke.

"I’ve got that advantage over some of the other guys.

"I can probably get to the balls which are going to turn a bit better than the short guys without moving my feet too much.

"So I’ll try and use that to my advantage as much as possible."

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The Dubai training camp follows Renshaw’s stint at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane last month where he spent time practicing on a specially designed spin wicket with teammate Steve O’Keefe and former England spinner Monty Panesar.

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Given he’s never played in India, Renshaw says his time at the NCC and in Dubai – where he is working closely with Australia batting coach Graeme Hick and spin consultant Sriram Sridharan – will be crucial to his success this series.

Aussies working hard on their games in Dubai nets

"The pitches here at the ICC Academy have been great since we arrived,” said Renshaw. 

"There are been some turning wickets and some low ones for the seamers.

"It’s the best preparation for India without going to India.

"I’ve been trying to work on different plans, we’ve got Graeme Hick and Sriram and we’re trying to replicate what will happen over there."

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Speaking to cricket.com.au last month, Hayden praised Renshaw’s spin-heavy training focus for the tour and said he was keen to pass on advice before his fellow Queenslander departed for India.

"I don't know his game intimately enough (to tell him to sweep), but you've got to have attacking options (in India),” Hayden said.

"I think you're a duck waiting to be shot when you're in a situation where you can't attack.

"The conditions are relentless, they just keep coming at you and come at you a thousand miles an hour and you're seemingly under pressure. So you've got to have that circuit-breaker.

"If his game is to sweep and he's decided that's an option, I would fully endorse that. There's a certain technique which I'm sure he would have got advice for."

Australia's spin plan slowly coming together

But while Renshaw, and the remainder of the Australian batsmen, have been heavily focused on spin in the lead-up to India, he noted it was important to remember India possess weapons of the pace-bowling variety as well.

"I’ve watched a bit of the England series, trying to work out what their spinners were trying to do, but we probably forget they have quick bowlers as well,” Renshaw said.

"Reverse swing will come on a fair bit over there."

The first Test against India begins in Pune on February 23.

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