Calls for Handscomb to take captaincy

Australia limited-overs opener Aaron Finch believes Peter Handscomb is the ideal candidate to take over the Victoria captaincy and suggested the Test batsman should be groomed for a national leadership role.

With Bushrangers skipper Matthew Wade returning home to Tasmania next summer and Cameron White declaring March's Sheffield Shield final triumph would be his final match as captain, Handscomb appears the standout candidate to take the reins.

While the right-hander will likely be unavailable for Victoria for large portions of next summer given his secure spot in the Test side, Finch believes Handscomb would benefit greatly from the responsibility.

"I'd be really surprised if he didn't take (the Bushrangers captaincy), or it's not offered to him," Finch told News Ltd.

"I think he's in a position, even though as a Test player he may miss some Shield cricket, he's going to be a 10 to 12-year player for Victoria and Australia hopefully.

"I'd imagine that the long-term planning, a bit like what has happened with Steve Smith, you give them the opportunity to really forge the team and create a path they want to take the side.

"He's got a wonderful cricket brain and is someone who, down the track, could find himself in a leadership role in the Australian set-up. Not necessarily captain, but in a leadership role.

"The way he is around the boys, he's passionate, he ticks every box, does all the right things and is a great role model for younger players."

Smith, now skipper of Australia in all three formats, had captaincy experience in all three domestic formats, as well as three Tests during the 2014-15 summer, before being appointed as Michael Clarke's Test and ODI successor following the 2015 Ashes.

Now the same age (26) as Smith was when he was handed those reins, Handscomb has stood in as captain of Victoria six times in the Shield and domestic one-day cup over the past two seasons.

Finch, along with dynamic allrounder Glenn Maxwell and Test quick Peter Siddle, loom as other contenders to replace Wade as Victoria skipper.

White, the most successful captain in Sheffield Shield history with a record 38 wins from 76 matches, endorsed Handscomb following the Bushrangers' third-straight Shield title in March.

"I think that's my time done with the captaincy," White said. "I can't do it forever.

"It's been a great honour to do it again this year and to cap it off with a Shield (title). I think it's time for someone else to do it.

"I just want to get back to enjoying playing.

"I can always help out as well while I'm still around. There's a lot of guys who can do the captaincy.

"Peter Handscomb is probably the number one cab off the rank I'd assume.

"I haven't spoken to Pete about it and that'll be up to (coach) Andrew McDonald and the Cricket Victoria board, but he would be the obvious choice."