Photo via Hindustan Times

Matt Renshaw reveals what was going on in his head as he reached his first Test ton in 10 years

Australia staged a dramatic recovery in the opening Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, turning a shaky first day into a commanding position thanks to a career-defining innings from Matt Renshaw. The left-hander, who had been sidelined for years, delivered his first Test century in nearly a decade with an unbeaten 190, anchoring the chase after a dismal 187/6 at stumps on day one.

His partnership with Nathan Lyon (134 for the ninth wicket) reshaped the game, lifting Australia to 390 and leaving South Africa reeling at 27/1 in their reply. Renshaw’s emotional account revealed the weight of redemption—having missed opportunities in 2023, he described his hundred as a moment of overwhelming relief, screaming at each ball to ‘go, go, go’ as pressure mounted from recent struggles, including a humiliating loss to Bangladesh at home in August.

Former teammate Simon Katich praised Renshaw’s resilience, calling his defensive yet effective approach exactly what Australia’s middle order had lacked for years, contrasting with earlier criticism over his perceived limitations.

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SA vs AUS, 1st Test: Renshaw scores 190 as Australia leads South Africa by 363 runs on Day 2