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Concussed Renshaw withdrawn from Test

The Australia opener copped a blow while fielding at short leg on day three of the Sydney Test

Matt Renshaw was also hit on the helmet on day one when he attempted to evade a lifter from Mohammad Amir  •  Getty Images

Matt Renshaw was also hit on the helmet on day one when he attempted to evade a lifter from Mohammad Amir  •  Getty Images

Australia have withdrawn their opening batsman Matt Renshaw from the remainder of the Sydney Test due to concussion.
Renshaw suffered two blows to the helmet during the first three days of the Test. On day one, while batting on the score of 91, Renshaw was hit on the grille when he failed to evade a bouncer from Mohammad Amir, although he was cleared at the time by team doctor Peter Brukner and batted on to complete his maiden Test century.
On the third day, Renshaw was fielding at short leg when Pakistan batsman Sarfraz Ahmed attacked a delivery from spinner Steve O'Keefe, and Renshaw was again hit on the helmet. Although he stayed on the field until the end of the next over, Renshaw then headed to Australia's rooms for assessment and reported that he was suffering from a headache.
"Matthew Renshaw was struck on the helmet fielding close-in on Thursday afternoon and came off complaining of a headache," Brukner said on the fourth morning. "He rested in the dressing room and then, when we returned to the hotel, we performed concussion tests and his cognitive, balance, co-ordination and reaction times were all within normal limits.
"However, on Friday morning he was still symptomatic and so we have taken the decision to withdraw him from the match as he is suffering from concussion. We will continue to monitor him over the coming days and work with him to produce a gradual return to play."
As a long-form specialist at this stage of his career, Renshaw is not currently signed to a BBL team and after this Test would have had a quiet period anyway ahead of the tour of India next month.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale