Weatherald Dropped, Renshaw Recalled for Australia's Second Test

Australia has dropped opening batsman Jake Weatherald from its squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, recalling Matt Renshaw as the only change following a heavy nine-wicket defeat in the series opener. The squad for the match in Mackay, Queensland, beginning August 22, was announced on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

Weatherald was dismissed for 23 and a duck in the first Test in Darwin, bringing his Test average to 20.36 across six matches since his Ashes debut. The selectors moved quickly after the loss, with coach Andrew McDonald noting visible changes to Weatherald's batting technique. "Yeah, there was some change to Jake in terms of where he lined up and his movement patterns. It's always hard to critique small sample sizes, whether it holds up," McDonald said before the announcement.

Renshaw, 30, last played Test cricket in 2023 against India in Delhi. His recall follows a strong domestic season in which he scored 499 runs in six Sheffield Shield matches at an average of 49.90. He had been kept on standby with the squad during a preparatory camp in Brisbane before the series. His Test record stands at an average of 29.31, with a career-best 184 against Pakistan.