Renshaw shows old hands how to bat: Smith

Australian cricket captain Steve Smith has been amazed by 20-year-old opener Matt Renshaw's composure during his maiden trip to India.

Australia's Matt Renshaw cheers for his team

Australian captain Steve Smith says Matt Renshaw is the batsman inspiring teammates in India. (AAP)

Steve Smith is the leading run-scorer of the ongoing Test cricket series in India, but Australia's skipper says 20-year-old Matt Renshaw is the batsman inspiring teammates.

Renshaw, who debuted as part of a mid-summer overhaul of the Test XI, was no certainty to open the batting in the current Test series despite a knock of 184 at the SCG earlier this year.

Selectors opted to stick with the batsman who had never set foot in India. They were duly rewarded.

Renshaw has been a revelation, soaking up plenty of pressure and outdoing vice-captain David Warner in every game. Smith is the only Australian to have scored more runs in the series than Renshaw's 223.

"A lot of the guys, the more senior players, have taken a bit out of the way he's done things," Smith said on the eve of the series decider that starts in Dharamsala on Saturday.

"I've been really impressed with Renshaw.

"For a guy who's never been here before, it's almost a different game.

"You get out to the middle and you see guys around the bat and a crusty wicket, things like that, and that can get to players who have played for a long period of time.

"For a guy that's only played a handful of Tests, to go out there and just play his game and back what he's worked on over the last few weeks has been amazing."

Peter Handscomb, another batsman to debut at Adelaide Oval in November, has also stepped up in Test cricket's ultimate proving ground.

Handscomb spearheaded the visitors' successful stonewall in the third Test, ensuring the series would remain level at 1-1 ahead of the final game.

But nobody in Australia's XI has matched Smith's consistency and class - as is so often the case.

Smith has broken all manner of records while scoring 372 runs and extending a streak of dominance against the opposition.

Smith has scored a ton in six of his past seven Tests against India. The right-hander is the third captain in the history of Test cricket to score two or more centuries in a series hosted by India.

"It's nice to have been able to lead from the front with my performances. That always helps," Smith said.

"Since taking over the captaincy I haven't really had a big lean run.

"I'm sure that will come at some point in time, hopefully not."


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Source: AAP



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