Day two report
If the choice to ask Nic Maddinson to open in Durban was a bust, the upside for Australia was that it pushed Matthew Renshaw down to number five. From there, the Queenslander returned from 10 years on the periphery to the centre of the spotlight in the first Test against South Africa, with an innings of 190 that saved Australia from peril, settled them into stability, then lifted them to dominance.
Staunch support from the lower order was the other part of the equation, as Renshaw batted through two extended sessions until he was last man out, just after tea, with AustraliaâÂÂs 390 followed by South AfricaâÂÂs 27 for one before stumps.
Imagine the likelihood, with the score at 124 for six on the first day, that Renshaw might go on, not just to score his second Test century, but to exceed that career high of 184? His secret was that there was no secret, just the most common formula known to the game: patience, concentration and pacing. Continuing in the style of his unbeaten 46 from day one, Renshaw defended calmly, kept the score moving with singles and picked off the odd poor ball.