To paraphrase the old adage, one man’s misery was all others’ merry, reflecting young Matt Renshaw’s unenviable situation on the opening day of the first Test here on Thursday.
The 20-year-old won many plaudits for his innings of 68, the highest individual score in Australia’s first day total of 256/9, but was a subject of humour and criticism at the same time.
Suffering an upset tummy, the southpaw retired ill to visit the toilet the moment David Warner got out. While it left many former Australian cricketers fuming as his move exposed two new batsmen, it led to plenty of laughter when he ran to change room and later when he addressed the media.
Sunil Gavaskar set the ball rolling from the commentary box exclaiming: “Oh, he is running now, he is running now…” Ravi Shastri added in good measure in his typical style. “And remember, he has to climb a lot of steps (to reach the dressing room)!”
Michael Clarke who was giving commentary at that moment along with Gavaskar and Shastri, though, was aghast.
India batting coach Sanjay Bangar was sympathetic to Renshaw. “When you have to answer nature’s call, no amount of will power or mind power can control that,” he remarked to another round laughter. “He had to go, probably he held back. He was having that conversation with Smith as well, whether he could do it or not. But beyond a point, it wasn’t controllable. Such incidents happen, it all adds to the colour of Test cricket!”
Renshaw himself appeared in good spirit later in the day. “It came pretty suddenly, probably about five or ten minutes before Davey (David Warner) got out,” he said leading to loud laughter at the media meet. “I asked (umpire) Richard (Kettleborough), ‘how long there was till lunch, and he gave me the answer of half an hour.’ I was struggling a bit then. It wasn't an ideal situation to be in.”
Renshaw admitted it was tough to concentrate on his batting in that situation. “I wasn't sure of the rule. I didn't know you could retire ill, so thought I'll just get out there and make sure I batted till lunch. It wasn't an ideal situation, so I just had to make do. And then coming back, it was probably a bit strange for me waiting to bat, because as an opener you just go straight out there to bat, so probably that was the most challenging bit, waiting to bat.
Smith, who had come on to replace the just dismissed Warner, appeared perplexed at the sight of Renshaw running past him.
“He (Smith) wasn't too thrilled about it, but he understands that when you need to go to the toilet, you've got to go to the toilet. It wasn't an ideal scenario, as I said, but it's life, pretty much,” said Renshaw, getting a touch philosophical.
