Dbarta24 Sports Desk — Australia has made a single change to its Test squad ahead of the second and final match against Bangladesh in Mackay, dropping struggling opener Jake Weatherald in favor of recall candidate Matt Renshaw.
The selection change follows Bangladesh’s historic 9-wicket victory in the series opener at Darwin.
Weatherald managed scores of just 23 and 0 during the match, extending a lean patch where he averaged 20.38 across six Tests, including last season’s Ashes series.
Cricket Australia formally confirmed the roster update, marking the only change to the 13-player squad initially named for the two-match series. Addressing Weatherald’s form, Australian head coach Andrew McDonald noted subtle technical adjustments in the 31-year-old’s stance and movement, though he cautioned against making long-term judgments based on a short performance sample.
The inclusion opens the door for 30-year-old Matt Renshaw to play his first Test since 2023. Renshaw, who traveled with the squad as a standby option following training sessions in Brisbane, earned his recall on the back of a standout Sheffield Shield season, where he scored three centuries at an average of 49.90.
Renshaw holds a Test batting average of 29.31, highlighted by a career-best 184 against Pakistan in 2017.
Notably, the left-hander has a strong record at Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena, having previously scored two first-class centuries at the venue.
Since David Warner’s retirement in early 2024, Australia has rotated through seven different opening partners alongside Usman Khawaja in search of top-order stability.
Australia will look to level the series when the final Test begins this Saturday in Mackay. Bangladesh currently leads the two-match series 1–0.
Australia Squad for 2nd Test:
Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Scott Boland.