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Australia have recalled Matt Renshaw into their 13-man squad for the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, after dropping opener Jake Weatherald. This is the only change to the team that lost heavily in the opening match at Darwin.

Weatherald, who made 23 and was last out for a duck in the first innings, has been dropped after posting 224 runs in six Tests at an average of 20.36 since he played every match in Australia's Ashes series victory. The players had been named for both matches, but a late decision was made to make a change after Australia's nine-wicket loss at Darwin.

Matt Renshaw Returns as Weatherald Pays the Price

The opener is set to play his 15th Test if selected in the XI following his last appearance for Australia in the format in 2023. He has already had a busy few weeks preparing for the series as he was on standby during the Ashes and had been with the national team in Brisbane for the duration of their camp ahead of the Tests.

Weatherald had made changes to his game during the county's off-season and showed the tweaks during the Darwin Test before falling to the cordon in the first innings after edging a pull shot off Hasan Mahmud, and dragging another delivery from the same bowler onto his stumps in the second.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald had spoken about the tweaks to Weatherald's game before the selectors named the squad.

“There was some change to Jake in terms of where he lines up and his rhythm,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “It's always hard to say with small samples, both ways, isn't it? So it's probably harder with that small sample size to say, you know what, that's it.”

Weatherald had also spoken about the pressure he was under ahead of the series as he was handed a central contract by Cricket Australia for the 2026 season.

“You are required to make runs all the time. I've got a good opportunity to play two games, hopefully, and make runs get four innings to do that. If I don't do that, then I put fate in someone else's hands,” he had said.

Matt Renshaw Recall Offers Clues On Australia's Opening Batting Dilemma

Renshaw's recall comes after a prolific Sheffield Shield season, which saw the left-hander average 49.90 with three centuries, as well as his debut in Australia's white-ball set-up after being named as a T20 World Cup replacement for Matt Short.

In Test cricket, though, Renshaw's record remains modest, with the opener averaging 29.31 and a high score of 184 against Pakistan in early 2017. If recalled in Mackay, it will be another chance for the 30-year-old to push his case for selection at the top of the order.

His potential selection also points to Australia's lack of clarity in the opening position following David Warner's decision to retire from Tests in early 2024.

Usman Khawaja aside, who had already made the position his own before the England series, Australia have used seven different openers this year. Travis Head had moved into the top order during the Ashes after Khawaja's injury in Perth and has since held down the role, with Steven Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Weatherald also featuring.

Labuschagne remains behind as a reserve after making a poor return in Darwin, scoring one and 31 before being dismissed in the second innings after missing a huge chance to drive Taijul Islam over the ropes.

Australia has remained cautious in their approach to the Test opener, opting not to debut uncapped players Ollie Peake and Campbell Kellaway, even with the support of former captain Ricky Ponting.

The same can be said for Josh Inglis, who is also in the squad as a backup batsman, while Scott Boland is on standby for a pace attack that has struggled with the conditions in Mackay. A spinner may also find their way into the XI with Josh Hazlewood only managing seven wickets in Darwin.

Australia will be looking to respond in Mackay after losing the toss in the series decider in Hobart, which saw Bangladesh register their first-ever Test win on Australian soil.

Australia Squad for Second Test vs 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.