Ryan Sidebottom says Middlesbrough-Born Matt Renshaw "can count himself very unlucky" with Ashes first Test omission

Matt Renshaw has refused to fade into the background after missing selection for Australia's first Ashes Test squad, responding with a classy century against Western Australia at the WACA on last Tuesday.

The left-handed Queensland opener, 29, who was born in North Yorkshire but raised in Brisbane, has been in impressive touch this season. He first broke into the Test side as a 20-year-old during the 2016/17 home summer, making an immediate impression with a composed 184 against Pakistan at the SCG.

With his last international Test appearance spanning over two years ago away to India, he's been steadily building a case for a Test recall after making his one-day international debut against India in October and scoring strongly in the Sheffield Shield.

But despite strong endorsements from his state teammate and current Test opener Usman Khawaja, Renshaw was left out of the squad for the Perth Test. His response was emphatic - a graceful 101 that gave Queensland the upper hand and reminded selectors that his form remains impossible to ignore.

On the eve of the Ashes getting underway Down Under, former England bowler Ryan Sidebottom, speaking exclusively to BOYLE Sports ahead of the Ashes, believes Renshaw can consider himself unfortunate to have missed out, given his consistency and run of form.

"With Usman Khawaja's selection, I think the reason they picked him is because he's played a number of Ashes series. He's got the experience. He's an experienced head.

"He's been there and done it. But Matt Renshaw can see himself as very unlucky. He's a guy who's churning out runs consistently.

"If there's an injury or a player's out of form, he could be the next shoe-in. He's just got to keep churning out runs and putting his name up there, and keep nodding on to the selectors and saying, 'I'm ready, I'm available'. He can find himself unlucky."

Sidebottom admitted he was surprised that selectors opted to retain Khawaja, who has looked short of rhythm in recent months.

"I was surprised with Usman Khawaja because he's been quite out of form and out of sorts recently. But they've gone experienced, haven't they? You look at the Australian team - the bowling attack - it's probably going to last and stay together for this series.

"Then maybe there might be one or two, maybe three retirements after that, but they've gone for an experienced team."

Renshaw's recent century, however, keeps him firmly in the frame should Australia's top order falter early in the series. His temperament, ability to build innings under pressure, and strong domestic form make him a natural candidate to step in if the opportunity arises.