In-form Queenslander again top scores for his county and becomes leading first-class run-scorer in 2018
Renshaw guides Somerset to top spot
Australia opener Matt Renshaw has continued his sublime form, top-scoring for Somerset in each innings as they went top of the County Championship Division One ladder.
Somerset have never won the Championship but Renshaw's run streak has helped them enter into the conversation in 2018, with the left-hander adding 61 to his first-inning century as the hosts chased down 248 to beat Notts on the final day in Taunton.
The 22-year-old was a late signing for Somerset, who originally added Cameron Bancroft to their books, however the Western Australian's contract was torn up in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.
Bancroft's loss has been Somerset's gain in the form of Renshaw, who has hit three hundreds among 472 runs – the most first-class runs at the county this season and third-most in the competition.
In 2018, Renshaw has scored more first-class runs than anyone: 1,139 at 59.94 with six hundreds.
The Queenslander was dropped from the Test side for last summer's Ashes but returned for Australia's fourth Test in South Africa following the ball-tampering affair.
Renshaw was last month named as part of Australia A's star-studded one-day and four-day squad's for a tour of India in September.
The opening batsman is an incumbent in the Test side but given the recent upheavals, as well as the new leadership pairing of Justin Langer (head coach) and Tim Paine (captain), it would appear plenty of batting spots are up for grabs.
Renshaw played six Tests on the subcontinent in 2017, scoring 308 runs at 25.66 with a pair of fifties. How he fares with Australia A could potentially be critical to his hopes of being part of the Test side to take on Pakistan in the UAE in October.
"It's an extremely important tour, as we look for players who can adapt and find ways to excel in subcontinent conditions," national selector Trevor Hohns said.
"With Australia's series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates fast approaching, it's a chance for some players to push for selection for that series, and for all players to gain experience in subcontinent conditions."