Aussies hopeful of Renshaw recovery

Australia are cautiously monitoring Matthew Renshaw but remain hopeful he’s on track to feature in the first Test against Pakistan following his nasty head knock in the ongoing tour match in Dubai.

Renshaw was substituted out of the four-day clash against Pakistan A after copping a powerful blow to the helmet from point-blank range while fielding at short leg on Sunday.

The 22-year-old had looked dazed immediately after the incident and was escorted from the field, but he looked back to his usual playful self on Monday as his teammates piled on the runs in his absence at the ICC Academy.

Renshaw walked laps of the oval and cracked jokes with teammates in blazing sunshine as the third day of the match unfolded, showing no overt signs of discomfort.

Concussion symptoms can materialise at any stage in the days following a head knock and Australia's medical staff will continue to keep close tabs on his well-being.

Renshaw has a history of concussion and former Australia coach Darren Lehmann, on commentary for Fox Sports on Monday, said he believed the Queenslander would be "extremely doubtful" to feature in the series.

But vice-captain Mitch Marsh said Renshaw was in good shape and appeared to be on the mend.

"It's never nice to see someone get hit in the head, but from what I've heard from the doctor he's getting better and better," vice-captain Mitch Marsh told reporters after his 162 propelled the visitors to 4-494 at stumps on day three.

"He seems in good spirits now. It's always a bit of a shock to see someone go down like that but from all reports he's all good now."

Opener Aaron Finch had described Renshaw's mood as upbeat on Sunday and said his headaches were subsiding.

Renshaw has time on his side, with the first Test still six days away and Australia are hopeful he'll be right to resume preparations for the series-opener in the coming days.

Should he not be passed fit, it would pave the way for Australia to field four debutants for the first time since the late 1970s during the upheaval of the World Series Cricket.

Usman Khawaja opened with Finch in the tour game and would seem the most likely fit there in Renshaw's absence, but Marnus Labuschagne, the man who replaced him in the XI, has also previously taken on the new ball for Queensland.

Travis Head all but secured his own spot for the series-opener with a composed and unbeaten 90 after Mitch and Shaun Marsh (94) earlier battered Pakistan A into submission during a five-hour long partnership.

Along with Head and Finch, Neser shapes as Australia's third likely debutant against Pakistan. The right-armer was limited to 11 overs in Pakistan A's first innings as spin dominated proceedings on a slow pitch but looked genuinely threatening and hurried the visiting side's batsmen with his bouncer.

Neser's main competition is veteran campaigner Peter Siddle, who spent the lunch break of the tour game on Monday in the middle bowling on a secondary pitch and working with bowling coach David Saker.

Brendan Doggett is the other fast-bowling option, a speedster who Brett Lee recently tipped as being capable of touching the 150kph barrier.

Should Australia be presented with a raging turner at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, allrounder Ashton Agar could come into consideration as a third spinner though Jon Holland looks to have locked up his spot to partner Nathan Lyon.

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez

Sep 29 - Oct 2: Tour match v Pak A, Dubai

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi