Been a weird six months since David Warner announced his Test retirement timeline: Matt Renshaw

In mid-2023, David Warner announced that the three-match Test series at home against Pakistan would be his final assignment in the longest format of the game. The southpaw went out on a high as he finished the series as the second-highest run-getter. Australia whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 to give Warner a memorable farewell present.

After the Tests against Pakistan, Australia have shifted their focus to the two-match Test series against the West Indies. Left-handed opener Matt Renshaw has earned a call-up to the side in the absence of Warner. The 27-year-old got the nod from the selectors ahead of fellow openers Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris, who were also in contention.

Speaking about his comeback, Renshaw stated that the past six months, since Warner announced his retirement date, were quite "weird" for him as there has been a lot of pressure to perform. However, he noted that he performs best when he enjoys his cricket.

"It is really nice and a lot of hard work has gone into that. It has been a weird six months since Davey said what he said but I have just tried to enjoy my cricket. That is the big one for me. As much as all this stuff has been looming over my head, I play my best when I am having fun. Obviously, people come and go. That's the way cricket is but I've just tried to enjoy my cricket…whether that is for Australia A, Prime Minister's XI, Queensland and in county cricket as well," Renshaw was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Since July 1, 2022, Renshaw has been in sensational form. He has amassed 1566 runs in first-class cricket, at an average of 52.50 and notched up seven centuries.

Steve Smith is the best player in the world: Matt Renshaw

Renshaw could have walked in straight into the playing XI for the first Test against the West Indies in Adelaide, starting on Wednesday, January 17. However, he will have to wait for his chance as Steve Smith is set to move up to the top of the order, helping all-rounder Cameron Green get into the side and bat in the middle order.

Renshaw, however, isn't too perturbed as he acknowledged that Australia are going in with the top six batters in the country, with Smith moving to open, and allowing space for Green in the XI. The southpaw is looking forward to learning from his teammates during his time with the Test team.

"He averages 60 in Test cricket. He is the best player in the world. It gets Cam [Green] in the team as well and we all know what Cam is capable of. Selectors talked about the top six batters in the country and there is no doubt those six guys are. It is just about me trying to learn from them while I am in the squad," Renshaw said.

"We have got amazing players in the team but I've had a little nibble at Test cricket already. I know what it is like to score a hundred, and how that feels. I just want to try and get that enjoyment and be myself around the Test team," he added.

Renshaw made his international debut in 2016 in a Test match against South Africa in Adelaide. He scored a stunning 184 in Sydney against Pakistan at the age of 20. The Middlesbrough-born noted that he was "naive" at that point, and over the years, he has tried to improve the technical aspects of his game.

"I feel a completely different player. I look back at that and I think I was very naive with cricket. I came in wet behind the ears and hadn't really had much experience with what the game can do. I've learned from that…tried to get better with that and tried to improve myself as a cricketer. That's all-round with my game knowledge and probably some technical aspects. I look back at my technique then and it probably wasn't that pretty. It is still probably not that pretty, but I feel like I have ironed out a few things I needed to," Renshaw stated.