Matthew Renshaw makes Ashes case with runs in New Zealand

Matt Renshaw has pushed his Ashes chances with an unbeaten 92 in Australia A’s unofficial Test against their New Zealand counterparts in Canterbury.

In seaming conditions after morning rain and against a Duke’s ball, Renshaw cruised through the evening’s play before Australia A went to stumps at 1-155.

Renshaw’s innings is timely given doubts continue about Australia’s top order for the World Test Championship final and Ashes, with David Warner’s future still in the air.

He batted in the middle order for Australia’s first Test loss in India last month, and then replaced Warner when the veteran succumbed to concussion in the second Test.

However he ultimately lost his spot when Cameron Green returned for the third Test, and Travis Head partnered Usman Khawaja for the final two matches.

Head will move back to the middle order for the June and July tour of England, leaving Warner with a call to make between Renshaw and Warner.

Renshaw’s 92 opening on Saturday at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln won’t hurt his chances with a century in the offing on Sunday.

“The pitch is really similar to what you would expect over in England, so it’s a really nice challenge for us over here,” Renshaw said.

“Losing the toss and batting is a really good opportunity to test yourself on these wickets.

“After being in India for six weeks facing an SG (ball) on wickets that don’t bounce, it was a nice change and challenge coming over here.”

The match was only Renshaw’s fourth in red-ball cricket since December, after his innings was cut short by rain in the SCG Test and then facing a combined 16 deliveries in India.

“Really strange times at the moment for me,” Renshaw said.

“I feel like I haven’t had much of a bat since the end of the Shield season. I had BBL, which was quite successful at the end.

“It feels really strange saying four months was four bats, but that’s the way cricket can be. It was nice to be back in the middle and enjoying batting.”

Teague Wyllie was the one tourist to fall for 17 when he was caught when he cut a short ball from quick Dean Foxcroft straight to gully.

Tasmanian Tim Ward was not out alongside Renshaw at stumps on 38.