MATT Renshaw has left the door open for a return to Somerset next summer having seen his current stint ended prematurely due to injury.

The Australian batsman has been a valuable addition, scoring three centuries and averaging over 50 in six County Championship matches, but a fractured finger has seen him depart earlier than planned.

Renshaw told the County Gazette: “Hopefully I’ll be back. 

“If all the plans align it will be nice to be back in England for that Ashes series but you never know with cricket, it can change so quickly. I just have to put my best foot forward and hope to be there.

“We don’t have any Test cricket between January and the Ashes starting so I should be able to play First Class cricket over here should the opportunity arise. 

Somerset County Gazette:

FLAMBOYANT: Renshaw flicks through the leg-side against Nottinghamshire. Pic: Alex Davidson/SCCC

“The last three months have been great for my development.

“I’ve built a nice relationship with Somerset and hopefully that can go on through the future.”

The 22-year-old arrived at short notice, replacing Cameron Bancroft after the Australian ball-tampering scandal.

That didn’t stop Renshaw making an instant impact, however, as plans to tour Europe with his girlfriend were put on hold.

Instead, he struck 101 on the first day of the Championship season against Worcestershire as his new teammates fell around him.

“It was different - I was trying to get to know the guys and I ended up batting with everyone except Tres in that first innings, which was pretty full on,” he said.

Somerset County Gazette:

STRONG START: Renshaw on his way to a century on debut against Worcestershire. Pic: Alex Davidson/SCCC

“I was thinking ‘jeez, if England’s like this all the time I’m not sure I’ll score too many runs.’ But it was nice to start well and I’ve been trying to back that up in the other games I’ve played.”

That he did, including a century before lunch in the next home Championship match against Yorkshire - something of a surprise, given his reputation as a watchful opener.

“I’ve never really had that opportunity back home to express myself that sort of way,” he said.

“I probably got a bit carried away thinking about that hundred before lunch but it’s one of those things where, if you get the opportunity, you want to be able to say that you’ve done that. That one is my favourite innings over here.”

Though frustrated by his inability to score an away century - “the most annoying thing about my time here - that and Marcus Trescothick’s injury” - Renshaw scored tons on each of his home Championship appearances and was pleased to gain more experience against the white ball in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Somerset County Gazette:

HITTING OUT: Renshaw scored 180 runs in six Royal London One-Day Cup innings. Pic: Alex Davidson/SCCC

“List A cricket has been around a bit more in England so guys have started learning more things and bowlers have got a bit smarter about it,” he said.

“In Australia they tend to come in and bowl as fast as possible and bowl yorkers at the death. Here there are all those varieties of bowlers with slower balls and tricks, which was a useful challenge and a great experience.”

Renshaw also added his name to the growing list of those who feel James Hildreth’s form this summer justifies a chance at international level.

He said: “They talk about the grade of player being how many hundreds they’ve scored and he’s scored a phenomenal amount. 

“I think he should definitely go to Sri Lanka as he’s a great player of spin, as we’ve seen throughout this season and last year as well. 

“You look at a guy like Shaun Marsh – he’s 34 at the moment but this is probably his most fruitful time in Test cricket.

"He’s managed to score loads of runs and got himself into the one-day side, where he’s now scoring loads of runs as well.

"I don’t think age can be too much of a factor. Sometimes they might rush a young guy in who has cemented a place at county level, but I definitely think James Hildreth could do a job at Test level."

It's not just on the pitch that Renshaw has had an impact at Somerset; he has fitted effortlessly in with his team mates and his penchant for the microphone on long coach journeys has spawned 'Renshaw's tours'.

When asked who may pick up this mantle, Renshaw's response came with tongue in cheek.

"The journeys will be more boring from now on," he said.

"I think you’ve got to give it to someone like a Craig or Jamie Overton – I’m not sure how intellectual they’ll be, but even I’ve panicked a few times up there. Hopefully they’ll have learned something and be able to take over from me."

The batsman has become the latest in a long line of Australians to be welcomed warmly by the Taunton public, stretching back to Greg Chappell and also including the likes of Steve Waugh, Jamie Cox and Justin Langer.

The feeling is mutual, too, with Renshaw regularly pointing out how much he has welcomed the support - though he admits with a smile that "if I’d gone duck, duck, duck I’m not sure the fans would have liked me as much" - and the fact he is relishing life in a cricket town like Taunton.

All being well, this will not be the last the county town sees of him.