Australia vs South Africa: Matt Renshaw epic innings puts tourists in command

Australia 390: Renshaw 190, Cummins 43; Mulder 4-68

South Africa 27-1: Markram 15*: Hazlewood 1-9

Matt Renshaw scored an epic first Test century in more than nine years to put Australia in control of the first Test in their highly anticipated series against South Africa.

After much talk about the issues among their ageing top order on day one, Renshaw ground out a majestic career-best 190 from 397 balls in Durban, emphatically pushing his case to be part of Australia's future.

The 30-year-old was born in Middlesbrough and was a childhood friend of England captain Joe Root - their fathers played together in English club cricket - before his parents left the UK for New Zealand and then Australia when he was seven.

As well as potentially match-defining innings, having dragged Australia from 124-6 to 390 all out, it was a statement knock from Renshaw who has had an in-out international career.

"I like him as a player," former Australia batter Simon Katich said on SEN Radio.

"When he first came in, I liked him as a player, even though others thought he was too defensive.

"I think that is what this team has needed and been crying out for."

Renshaw scored 184 in his fourth Test against Pakistan in January 2017 after being handed a debut aged 20, but averaged 19.41 across 10 Tests across two spells before being recalled earlier this year.

"A few years out of the team, I had the opportunity in 2023, you think [you're] never going to get the opportunity again," Renshaw said.

"When I hit the ball [to go to his hundred] I was screaming at it 'go, go, go'.

"It hit me all at once. It was pretty special."

Against South Africa, the left-hander hit only three boundaries on day one - he attacked only 14.2% of deliveries in making his first 50 runs, the lowest figure of the Australia's top order. A throwback innings continued as he left well throughout day two, largely scoring square or behind the wicket.

He extended his partnership with captain Pat Cummins in the morning session to 86 and then expertly controlled a stand of 134 with number 10 Nathan Lyon to frustrate and tire South Africa's bowlers.

Renshaw took the strike when needed, protecting Lyon from the pace of Anrich Nortje, but became increasingly aggressive to add boundaries and inflict further pain as the partnership grew.

He added a further 21 alongside number 11 Josh Hazlewood before falling in the first over after tea.

Does Renshaw knock solve Australia's top-order dilemma?

Renshaw's superb innings, and opener Ryan Rickelton's three-ball duck in the 8.4 overs before bad light halted South Africa's reply, has left Australia well placed to push for victory on a pitch that flattened out on day two, but is expected to take turn later in the Test.

This series has been eagerly anticipated, given it is a repeat of last year's World Test Championship final, which was won by the Proteas.

It is also the third in a possible 21 Tests for Australia before the end of the Ashes next summer and, while Renshaw has surely secured his immediate future at least, his knock does not alleviate all questions over the make-up of their side.

When he was recalled in August it was in place of Jake Weatherald as opener, but he was moved down to number five for this Test when Cameron Green was ruled out.

Nic Maddinson came in at the top of the order alongside Travis Head, giving Australia an 11th different opening partnership since the retirement of David Warner.

With Green, the regular number five, expected to return and Maddinson making a 33-ball duck on day one, a solution to their top-order struggles would be to move Renshaw up again.

That would reunite him with Head, who made the surprise move to opener to impressive effect in the Ashes - he flogged England for centuries in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney - but has also shown vulnerability in failing to pass 22 in his four innings since.

Equally, Renshaw could stay in the middle order and Green return for fellow-all-rounder Beau Webster, meaning Australia's hunt for a settled opening pair would continue.

"No idea," Renshaw said of the decision ahead. "That's well above my pay grade.

"Whatever is the best for the team is the one for me. I am not too fussed."