Renshaw validates selectors' faith

Regardless of what transpires in the Test series decider between Australia and India, Matt Renshaw has proven himself a selection masterstroke yet again.

Renshaw was rushed into Australia's Test XI as part of a mid-summer overhaul following five straight losses.

Having played just 12 first-class games at the time, Steve Smith and some of his new national teammates hadn't even met the burly Queenslander.

But Renshaw dispelled concerns from some pundits and past players over blooding such an inexperienced batsman as he patiently guided Australia to victory in his debut Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

Immediately typecast as the nurdler, the same tag fit at the SCG, where he followed up David Warner's century in a session with a knock of 184 which took almost seven hours.

Despite the marathon innings, coach Darren Lehmann made a frank admission after that match, suggesting Renshaw was no guarantee to open alongside Warner in India.

However, Lehmann and on-duty selector Trevor Hohns ultimately decided to leave Usman Khawaja out of the XI, and Renshaw hasn't looked back since.

No Australian has scored more Test runs before the age of 21 than the imposing left-hander, who celebrates that milestone birthday on day four of the fourth Test.

For someone who hadn't set foot in India prior to arriving for the tour, Renshaw has demonstrated immense maturity during the past two months.

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"On the field he definitely does," Warner quipped.

"He knuckles down, he's got the game. He's got the brains as well for a 20-year-old kid.

"I know where my mind was when I was a 20-year-old.

"Credit to him to come out here and play the way he has done so far in this series, it's a testament to him and obviously (the same applied for) the way he started in Australia as well."

Renshaw has scored 223 runs and faced 567 deliveries in the ongoing series, compared to Warner's 131 runs and 217 balls.

He has shrugged off sledging and short-pitched bowling alike with minimal fuss, grinning in a fashion that belies the immense pressure.

Another batsman to have repaid selectors' faith, Shaun Marsh returned to the XI for the first Test in Pune at the expense of Khawaja and helped Australia salvage a draw in the third Test alongside Peter Handscomb.

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"He's a special player for us," Warner said of Marsh.

"He's one of our toughest players in this team and nothing is ever going to knock SOS down."