Australia axe Jake Weatherald, draft in Matt Renshaw for 2nd Test against Bangladesh

By SABC Sport
18th August 2026

Jake Weatherald has paid the price for Australia's shock defeat in the first Test against Bangladesh and has been dropped, with Matt Renshaw drafted into the squad for the final game of the series.

Weatherald scored 23 and 0 as the home team fell to a nine-wicket defeat in Darwin, leaving the opener with an overall record of 224 runs at an average of 20.36 from six matches.

Renshaw is in line to play his 15th Test and will come into the team on the back of good form with Queensland in domestic first-class cricket last season having averaged 49.90, that included three centuries.

The change at the top of the order will see Australia now have used seven openers since David Warner retired in 2024.

Another player under scrutiny in the second Test will be number 3 Marnus Labuschagne, who head coach Andrew McDonald needed "big runs".

Australia squad for second Test against Bangladesh: Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Scott Boland