In an enexpected turn of events during the morning session on day one of the first Test against India, Australian opener Matt Renshaw retired ill due to a stomach upset.
The incident occurred when his opening partner David Warner was dismissed after the duo had put on 82 runs for the first wicket. Renshaw followed Warner to the pavillion and there was confusion for a while on what had happened.
It was soon known that Renshaw had retired ill which saw two new batsmen – Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh – out in the middle.
Former Australian cricketers didn’t seem very appreciative of Renshaw’s decision especially Allan Border who had told Dean Jones to bat on despite illness in Chennai in the 1980s.
“It’s such a shame, we saw him having to go off 15 minutes before lunch. I hope he is lying on the table there half dead. Otherwise as a captain I would not be happy,” said Border while talking on Fox Sports.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke, who is in Pune commentating on the Test, was taken aback by what was happening.
“What is going on here? He’s retiring ill,” said Clarke.
“Only 15 minutes until lunch, I can’t believe Renshaw is retiring. He must be extremely sick and has a stomach bug and has to go to the bath room – this is unbelievable.”
Renshaw came back to bat in the second session after the fall of the third wicket. He notched up a superb half-century before being dismissed for 68.