3 minute read

Matthew Renshaw will take a break from cricket on the advice of Queensland coaching staff after he was dropped for this week's Sheffield Shield game.

Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw has been convinced to take a break from cricket by Bulls staff after he was dropped for this week's Sheffield Shield game.

Renshaw, 23, was instead set to be named in the Cricket Australia XI team to play the English Lions side in Hobart this weekend but - for at least the next fortnight - won't pick up a bat on the advice of Bulls performance manager Bennett King.

The 11-Test veteran showcase his expanded strokeplay to be one of the Brisbane Heat's most consistent batsmen during the Big Bash.

But with a Shield average hovering around 20 for the last 18 months, Renshaw was overlooked for the Bulls' return to four-day cricket against Tasmania at the Gabba from Friday.

Victorian trio Glenn Maxwell, Nic Maddinson and Will Pucovski all took leave from the game with mental health issues this summer but Queensland officials say Renshaw's is more a case of an overloaded batsman needing to "freshen up".

"As part of our usual review process of player performance, our coaching and support staff spent time with Matthew this week and they all came to the conclusion that he would benefit from some time away from cricket," King said.

"We're confident Matthew will benefit from a break from the game to freshen up, and look forward to working with him once he is ready to resume playing."

Renshaw made his Test debut as a 20-year-old and has a best of 184.

But a combination of untimely injuries and form slumps have seen him shunted back down the queue, with Queensland teammate Joe Burns - the man Renshaw initially replaced - again the incumbent at the top of the order for Australia.