Matt Renshaw leaves the field after being hit on the helmet during the warm-up game

Australia have suffered an injury scare ahead of the Test series against Pakistan as their opener Matt Renshaw was hit on the helmet during the practice game at the ICC Academy in Dubai. He was fielding at the short leg position when the batsman pulled the short ball ferociously. Renshaw tried to duck in order to save himself but the ball thudded to the helmet and he was in pain as the physio attended the cricketer.

After deliberating for some time, the visitors decided that the blow was enough to take him away from the field. He is being monitored by the medical staff and will play no further role in the match now. Pakistan A team has agreed to let Marnus Labuschagne replace him in the playing XI for the rest of the encounter.

The incident took place when Abid Ali was batting well and he had smashed the ball with all the power as Matt Renshaw sat with heads on his hands after the blow. The skipper Tim Paine helped him on his feet while returning from the ground. There were concerned looks on the faces of the cricketers and they will be hoping that he will be fine. The batsman was dismissed as Paine took a catch on the rebound but the visitors were least worried about it.

Australia batting well

As far as the practice game is concerned, Pakistan A were bowled out for 278 runs as Nathan Lyon warmed up for the contest nicely with an eight-wicket haul. Abid Ali scored 85 runs for his team while the other batsmen failed miserably. In response, Australia started well with their openers Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch spending some key time in the middle.

The latter also scored a half-century and looked set to make his Test debut in a few days time. Khawaja also scored 36 runs. However, once they were dismissed the brothers Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh have looked in no trouble whatsoever and have added 24 runs for the third wicket. They were 128/2 at tea after 48 overs.

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