Part-time gloveman hoping for full-time promotion in early 2018
Handscomb eyes ODI keeping spot
Axed Test batsman Peter Handscomb has revealed he wants to be Australia's permanent one-day international wicketkeeper and is eyeing off the gloves for the 50-over series against England next month.
Handscomb, who made way for allrounder Mitch Marsh for the third Magellan Ashes Test, was released from Australia's Boxing Day squad to play in Melbourne Stars' KFC Big Bash League match against Perth Scorchers at the WACA on Tuesday.
While he hasn't given up hope of a recall for the Sydney Test given his noted ability against the turning ball and the SCG's reputation as the country's most spin-friendly venue, the Victorian sought out the gloves for the Stars' second match of BBL|07 with a view of pushing his case to wicketkeep in January's five-match Gillette ODI series.
"If the opportunity is there, I want to do it for Australia during the one day series," Handscomb told cricket.com.au in Perth after the Stars' 15-run defeat to the reigning BBL champions.
"That was another reason for me coming back here, (to) put the gloves on and make sure my skills are up to international standard. It's nice to have that game time."
Matthew Wade is the incumbent ODI gloveman and recently said he’s confident of retaining his spot, while Tim Paine, the man who displaced Wade in the Test side, would also appear to be in contention for the one-day position.
Handscomb has taken the gloves in three of his eight ODIs, and frequently performs the job at domestic level for Victoria in 50-over cricket and for the Stars in T20s.
His skills behind the stumps has previously led to calls for him to be considered as Australia's Test keeper, most notably in September when selectors seriously flirted with the idea of him taking the gloves for the second Test against Bangladesh.
But Handscomb, who holds a Test batting average of 47, reiterated his view that performing the job in the longest format is too onerous for a top-order batsman.
"I've always been happy to do it in the white-ball formats – I can still bat in the top four or top five," the 26-year-old explained.
"Keeping isn’t too taxing in the shorter formats. I'm happy to do it under extreme circumstances (in Tests) but it takes a lot out of you in the long form.
"I'm happy to do it in the one-dayers … I'm still pushing to be the one-day keeper come January."
Handscomb was spotted performing a series of keeping drills in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test, prompting some to suggest he was in the running to stand in for Paine who was late to join the Australia squad due to personal reasons.
But Handscomb stressed that practicing with the gloves is simply part of his training routine and explained that one of the requirements of his Cricket Australia development plan (which every state and nationally contracted player in Australia completes and updates annually) is to ensure his glovework stays sharp through regular practice.
"Every time I do it (practice wicketkeeping), all these stories come out saying, 'what's happening?'" Handscomb laughed.
"That's the thing - your KPIs (key performance indicators) or your IPP (Individual Player Plan) that you do with Cricket Australia, with the coaches and the support staff, one my targets is that I have to do some keeping once every week or once every fortnight to make sure I'm up with it.
"I'm trying to make sure my skills are up there when and if they need to be used."
Handscomb certainly looked the part against the Scorchers with a tidy performance behind the pegs, pouching two catches and nearly pulling off a superb leg-side stumping off Michael Beer.
He moved swiftly to his right to collect a wide from left-arm spinner Beer after Ashton Agar advanced down the wicket, but Agar had just enough time to get his bat back to safety before Handscomb broke the stumps.
Legendary former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist praised Handscomb for his footwork in collecting the ball after being blindsided, but explained how he may have been able to pull off the dismissal with a slight technical tweak.
"A brilliant bit of keeping by Handscomb - down the legside, moved really well, " Gilchrist said on commentary for Channel Ten.
"But just notice which hand he gets the ball back to the stumps with. He takes it and goes right handed.
"Handscomb would have been probably been able to effect that stumping … with the glove that was closer to the stumps.
"It just gave Agar enough time to get back there. It was very tidy bit of work but they're the little fine points of keeping."
Handscomb meanwhile believes he's still in the running for a Test recall, stressing that he's still in good touch with the bat.
He could come into contention for the New Year's Test against England if the positions of Usman Khawaja, whose spot has come under scrutiny from the likes of Shane Warne and Michael Hussey, or opener Cameron Bancroft are reviewed.
Mitch Marsh would appear difficult to displace given he struck his maiden Test ton in Perth, while Steve Smith, David Warner and Shaun Marsh are all locks.
"I'm still looking at the Sydney Test as a chance," said Handscomb.
"It can be typically a spinning wicket and I feel like my game is good enough to get out there and make the runs if required.
"The boys are still making runs in the Test team though. If they're making runs, then that's fine, I'll wait until my opportunity.
"If that comes in South Africa, then it comes in South Africa. But I've just got to make sure I'm ready to go."
2017-18 International Fixtures
Magellan Ashes Series
Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.
England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.
First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard
Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard
Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard
Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets
Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets
Gillette ODI Series v England
First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets
Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets
Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets
Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets
Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets
Prime Minister's XI
PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets
Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series
First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets
Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets
Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets
Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14
Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16
Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18
Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21