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Matt Renshaw steps away from cricket after axing from domestic side

Australian Associated Press
·2-min read

Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw has been convinced to take a break from cricket by Bulls staff after he was dropped for this week's Sheffield Shield game.

Renshaw, 23, was instead set to be named in the Cricket Australia XI team to play the English Lions side in Hobart this weekend but - for at least the next fortnight - won't pick up a bat on the advice of Bulls performance manager Bennett King.

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The 11-Test veteran showcase his expanded strokeplay to be one of the Brisbane Heat's most consistent batsmen during the Big Bash.

Matt Renshaw, pictured here in action for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield in 2019.
Matt Renshaw in action for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield in 2019. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

But with a Shield average hovering around 20 for the last 18 months, Renshaw was overlooked for the Bulls' return to four-day cricket against Tasmania at the Gabba from Friday.

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Victorian trio Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson and Will Pucovski all took leave from the game with mental health issues this summer but Queensland officials say Renshaw's is more a case of an overloaded batsman needing to "freshen up".

"As part of our usual review process of player performance, our coaching and support staff spent time with Matthew this week and they all came to the conclusion that he would benefit from some time away from cricket," King said.

Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw, pictured here during a Test series against Sri Lanka in 2019.
Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw during a Test series against Sri Lanka in 2019. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

"We're confident Matthew will benefit from a break from the game to freshen up, and look forward to working with him once he is ready to resume playing."

Renshaw made his Test debut as a 20-year-old and has a best of 184.

But a combination of untimely injuries and form slumps have seen him shunted back down the queue, with Queensland teammate Joe Burns - the man Renshaw initially replaced - again the incumbent at the top of the order for Australia.