Renshaw suffers knock in tour game

Australia have suffered an injury scare ahead of their two-Test series against Pakistan, with Matthew Renshaw substituted out of the four-day tour match in Dubai following a nasty head knock.

Renshaw was being monitored by medical staff on Sunday morning (local time) after he left the field following a blow to the helmet in Australia's warm-up game against Pakistan A.

The 22-year-old opener will play no further part in the match and the Pakistanis have agreed to let Marnus Labuschagne replace him in the XI.

Fielding at short leg to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, Renshaw was hit in the side of the helmet by a powerful pull shot from Pakistan A batsman Abid Ali. 

The fact the ball ricocheted high into the air to offer Tim Paine a simple catch and Nathan Lyon his sixth wicket of the innings was cold consolation for the Australians, who gathered around Renshaw to check on his well-being.

He pulled his helmet off immediately after the blow and sat with his head in his hands, before Paine helped him to his feet as medical staff came on the field to inspect the damage.

Renshaw was able to walk off the field alongside the team doctor before going into the ICC Academy change rooms for further checks.

A short time after the incident, Pakistan A were dismissed for 278 and Usman Khawaja was moved up to open in Renshaw’s place alongside Aaron Finch, with Labuschagne to slot into the middle order. Lyon finished with eight wickets.

Finch said post-play Renshaw was coping well and suggested the after effects were not overly severe.

"He's okay," he told reporters. "It was a pretty heavy knock to the head there.

"He's been with the medical staff all afternoon but he seems in really good spirits. He's confident that his headaches are subsiding pretty quickly."

Renshaw had fielded at short leg for the majority of Pakistan A's first innings, with spinners Lyon and Jon Holland bowling the lion's share of the overs.

Renshaw has a history of concussions, with his most recent one coming in a bizarre warm-up incident on the morning of a JLT Sheffield Shield match for Queensland in March. He was subbed out of the game but the injury was not serious.

The opening batsman was also withdrawn from 2017 New Year's Test in Sydney against Pakistan having been first hit by a bouncer while batting before copping another blow while fielding at short leg two days later.

Renshaw took a catch fielding at short leg on Saturday's first day off Lyon to remove Usman Salahuddin.

The incident on Sunday was an unfortunate end to Abid's innings, who batted superbly to keep the Aussies at bay on a turning pitch for almost all of the first day.

While rebound catches off a fielder’s helmet were not previously permitted, the ICC amended the rules last year to make them legal so as not to discourage players from wearing helmets while fielding in close.

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

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

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi