Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has publicly called for Matt Renshaw to be included in Australia's side for the second Test against Bangladesh on August 22 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. Renshaw is not currently part of the Australia squad for the Bangladesh series.
Hayden made his comments after Bangladesh completed a nine-wicket victory over Australia in the first Test in Darwin, which ran from August 13 to 16. The result has intensified scrutiny on Australia's batting line-up and raised urgent questions about the composition of the top order ahead of the Mackay Test.
Hayden said he has been advocating for Renshaw's inclusion for at least 12 months and wants to see the left-hander opening the batting at Test level. He also suggested moving Travis Head to number three as part of a broader refresh at the top of the order.
What did Hayden say about Australia's batting order problems?
Hayden identified two distinct concerns in Australia's batting line-up, the first being the prolonged poor form of Marnus Labuschagne at number three, along with the challenge of finding a settled opening combination. Labuschagne has been in difficult form for approximately two years, and Hayden questioned what would change if the same combination was retained for Mackay and beyond into the Australian summer. He has averaged 25.32 in his last 42 innings, and was even dropped from the side in 2025 for a tour of the West Indies.
"I think you've got to have a starting point though. You've got to say, okay, who are we and where are we highlighting first? Is it one of the openers or is it that number three spot? Because number three spot has been the big question. Marnus Labuschagne has been in that sort of form now for two years. What's going to change overnight, not only when we go to Mackay, but what's going to change come that first test match of the Australian Summer improper? Or do we focus on the fact that you've got that challenge at the top of the order for Travis Head," Hayden told 7Cricket.
What changes did Hayden specifically recommend for the Mackay Test?
Hayden's preferred solution involves shifting Travis Head from opener to number three and bringing Renshaw into the side at the top of the order. He described Renshaw as match fit and said he is keen to see what the Queensland batter can offer at Test level. Renshaw's last Test appearance came in 2023 in India, taken on the tour as an adept player of spin. He has been a regular feature in the white-ball sides in the recent past as well.
"What I would do, I think, is actually put Travis Head at number three and then I would start to look for a refresh and a refit actually at that top of the order. I want some experience at the top. I want to see Renshaw, and I've been saying this for at least 12 months, I think he is match fit. I think the selectors knew what he was, but now I want to see what he actually is," Hayden added.