Queensland batter comes into squad for two-Test series, however a middle-order reshuffle looks likely for Australia

The identity of the new addition to Australia’s Test outfit has been revealed, but mystery remains as to who will partner Usman Khawaja as David Warner’s replacement at the top of the batting order in the upcoming two-match series against West Indies.

Matthew Renshaw has been named in Australia’s 13-man squad for the NRMA Insurance Series that begins at Adelaide Oval on January 17, ending speculation as to which of the three front-running candidates would win the race for the vacancy created by Warner’s Test retirement.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.

However, while Renshaw has edged out fellow Test-capped openers Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft for inclusion in the squad, it remains to be seen if the 27-year-old will partner his Queensland skipper Khawaja against the new ball next week.

In confirming Renshaw’s recall, as well as seamer Scott Boland who was released from the Test squad in Sydney to play for Melbourne Stars in the BBL, national selection panel George Bailey indicated only that the “best six batters” would be deployed in the series opener at Adelaide Oval.

Bailey also confirmed allrounder Cameron Green would return to Australia’s starting XI for the first Test against West Indies in Adelaide, and that Renshaw (Brisbane Heat) and Boland will play for their respective BBL clubs prior to joining the Test squad next week.

Confirmation that Green comes into the XI with Warner’s the only known exit leaves the door open for Steve Smith to move to the top of the order for the first time in his 14-year Test career, after the former Australia captain last week confirmed his interest in filling Warner’s shoes.

“Cameron Green will come into the playing XI for the Test in Adelaide in a squad also containing Scott Boland and Matthew Renshaw,” Bailey said today. “We have selected a team we believe contains the best six batters in the country.

“Scott Boland and Matt Renshaw will join the squad prior to the first Test after playing for the Melbourne Stars (Jan 15) and Brisbane Heat (Jan 13) in the BBL.”

Should Smith be granted his wish and is reinvented as opener at age 34, it could allow Green to resume his promising Test career in suddenly vacant number four berth where the 24-year-old has averaged 65.1 in 24 Marsh Sheffield Shield innings for Western Australia.

Furthermore, Australia’s bowling stocks would be further boosted by Green’s highly regarded seamers that have earned him 30 wickets at 36 from his 24 Tests to date, although it seems likely he would be used sparingly if adopting a more specialist batting role.

Selectors have found it difficult to find a berth for Green since fellow WA allrounder Mitchell Marsh seized his chance during last year’s Ashes, with Marsh averaging 66 at number six since his return to the Test XI at Headingley last July.

Given Renshaw has filled every batting berth from one to six during his first-class career, and been utilised as an opener and in the middle-order during his 14 Tests between 2016 and this year, his inclusion also offers selectors significant flexibility.

Renshaw’s 2023-24 Shield record is not dissimilar to Harris’s with 348 runs at 31.6 and a solitary century, but he showed his class against Pakistan with an unbeaten 136 batting at number three in the pre-Test series tour game at Manuka Oval.

The 27-year-old was previously recalled for the final NRMA Insurance Test last summer against South Africa at the SCG after Green suffered a fractured finger in the preceding match at the MCG, with his ability to slot into the middle-order a key factor in his return.

He was then retained for the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in India in February but after scores of 0, 2 and 2 in his three innings (having replaced Warner as a concussion substitute during the second Test at Delhi), Renshaw lost his place.