Matt Renshaw admits that he has stopped keeping tabs on his domestic rivals as he focuses on his own game ahead of Australia’s upcoming series against India.
The Queensland opener, who has earned a recall to the national squad for the ODI and T20 clashes, told ABC Grandstand that constantly comparing himself to others had previously taken a toll on his mental well-being.
‘It doesn’t help me’
“I think in the past, when I’ve cared too much about people succeeding or failing, it’s put a real dampener on my cricket and my mental health,” Renshaw said. “To be honest, I don’t check the scores. I couldn’t tell you what anyone scored in that round of Shield games, because I haven’t looked. I know that it doesn’t help me. I don’t really take too much interest in what other people are doing.”
Renshaw, who last played a Test in 2023, said he still harbours ambitions of returning to the national side but is determined not to let outside noise distract him.
“The time it goes through my mind is when journalists keep asking me about it,” he said. “It’s the great Australian bat off at the moment, isn’t it? Obviously, the aspiration is to try and play Test cricket again. It’s been sort of a weird career for me in the Test arena, but I feel like I’ve got the ability to do it, if selected.”
With fierce competition among Australia’s openers, Renshaw said the overall depth of talent was a sign of strength, and one he’s learning to embrace rather than measure himself against.