Australian opener Matthew Renshaw will be taking a straight flight to South Africa following the conclusion of play in the Sheffield Shield final on Tuesday evening as he has got a Test recall in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal that has bewildered the visitors since day three of the third Test at Newlands. The southpaw last played for Australia in Test in September for the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Cricket Australia made the announcement via Twitter.
Matt Renshaw has just been called into Australia's Test squad… he's also batting right now in the #ShieldFinal in Brisbane!
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/J2mkwy5h9M
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 27, 2018
If Renshaw gets to play the Johannesburg Test, it will be his 11th Test match for Australia as in the longest format he averages 36.64 with the bat. Australian skipper Steve Smith has been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the fourth Test and Cameron Bancroft copped three demerit points and a 75 percent match fee deduction for his role in the fiasco.
WATCH: Matthew Renshaw Receives Five-run Penalty For Joking
Renshaw is currently playing for Queensland with fellow opener Joe Burns as they are chasing down a meager 128 for a dominating victory. The only way Queensland could lose is if Tasmania bowled them out.
Needing an outright victory to claim the crown at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field, the Tigers put the foot down this morning.
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Alex Doolan (82 not out) and Jordan Silk (74) dominated as the visitors reached 1-166 from 26 overs before bad light stopped play shortly before lunch. Tasmania lead by 127 but with heavy storms arriving it appears unlikely they will get a realistic chance to take the 10 wickets needed for a miracle victory. Umpires will inspect the wicket at 2.10pm AEST, with the radar clear and ground staff working to rid the ground of excess water in the outfield.
