Warner-Renshaw duo get Waugh approval

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has backed "street-smart" opening pair David Warner and Matthew Renshaw to prosper on Australia's Test tour of India in February-March.

Warner and Renshaw were fire and ice on day one of the third Commonwealth Bank Test in Sydney, with the senior partner crashing a century before lunch while the Test rookie walked off at stumps unbeaten on 167.

While Steve Smith's charges are in the box seat to complete a 3-0 series whitewash against Pakistan, attention has slowly started to turn to India where Waugh believes Australia's fledgling first-wicket partnership can thrive.

"They look like they've got good temperament," Waugh told cricket.com.au on Tuesday. "That's the main thing in Test cricket.

"You've got to have the temperament to get through the tough periods, to think smartly when you're out there in the middle and they've both shown they're street-smart, which is really important.

"It will test them in different ways in India – technique, conditions and different pitches.

"It's been nice timing for Australian cricket. They've played four Tests together, they're winning and they're playing well, so they're going over there with confidence."

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Speculation surfaced prior to the final Test of the summer that Western Australian veteran Shaun Marsh would return to the starting XI in place of Renshaw for the four-Test tour of the subcontinent, but Renshaw's determined maiden century in the Baggy Green cemented his place at the top of the Australia order.

Warner's former partner, Chris Rogers, said Renshaw's burgeoning partnership with Warner and Marsh's good track record in Asia may have heaped pressure on No.3 Usman Khawaja.

Khawaja had a torrid time on last winter's tour of Sri Lanka, scoring 55 runs at 13.75 across two Tests before being dropped, while Marsh, recalled for the third Test, scored a century and averages 78.6 in Asia.

"It's a difficult one ... what you hear behind the scenes is that they want Shaun Marsh in the side," Rogers told Optus Sport's Stumps.

"I think (Marsh) is still right in the reckoning for India. How he gets in there I'm not sure.

"It's going to be very hard for selectors to drop Matt Renshaw after today so Usman Khawaja might be under pressure and what a big call that would be."

While Warner stole the spotlight in the morning with the first century before lunch on the first day ever seen in Australia, the opening stand combined for 151 – a first century partnership for the Warner-Renshaw combination.

When the pair brought up the hundred stand in the 21st over, Warner had contributed 80 and Renshaw just 19, but the lopsided contribution did not faze the 20-year-old.

Renshaw played second fiddle note perfectly as Warner dined out on Pakistan's attack at the Sydney Cricket Ground to post a century from 78 balls before the luncheon interval – the first Australian to do so since Don Bradman in 1930.

Australia's vice-captain fell shortly after play resumed for 113, admitting after play he got a little greedy trying to run a tight ball to third man that found its way to the wicketkeeper.

Undaunted by the loss of his partner, Renshaw carried on to survive the afternoon session and bring up triple figures in Australian colours after tea in front of 30,305 adoring fans.

Renshaw, playing in just his fourth Test and 17th first-class game, had been criticised for his slow scoring rate, but his style is a throwback to the old school philosophy of opening batsmen where it's said you dig in early against the new ball then cash in later in the day as the opposition tires.

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That's exactly what the England-born Queenslander did, scoring 25 from 84 balls in the morning session, 58 from 93 in the afternoon before filling his boots in the evening with 84 runs coming from 98 balls.

Waugh called both innings "outstanding" and says Australia's newest opening combination is so effective because of the contrasting style of each partner. 

"It's great to see Test cricket (played like that), that's what it's all about," Waugh said.

"There's different techniques, different ways about going about the game.

"Dave Warner looked like he was having a practice session in the nets this morning. He was just outstanding.

"Every ball hit the gap and went for four and it was a really controlled innings.

"He'd be disappointed he got 113. I think he had 200 or 300 in mind today. It was a pleasure to watch.

"Then Matt Renshaw – a fantastic innings, a real Test match style innings.

"He worked hard for it, he was a great foil for Dave Warner.

"Those two have already developed a really good partnership because they complement each other so well."