Handscomb happy to keep innovating

Australia A captain Peter Handscomb exhibited plenty of innovative leadership in his maiden appearance in the role, and insists there's plenty more to come in that respect as the 'A' series moves to Townsville.

The hosts will again take on South Africa A in a four-day clash, beginning Saturday, after they cruised to a 197-run win on the final day of the series opener at Brisbane's Allan Border Field.

As well as some exceptional performances with bat, ball and in the field, it was Handscomb's captaincy that caught the eye, as the Victorian batsman regularly experimented with his fields and was ably supported by the relentless fast-bowling trio of Joe Mennie, Chris Tremain and Dan Worrall, who collected 17 of the 20 wickets to fall.

The consistency of the quicks allowed Handscomb to put some clever plans in place, with uncommon field placings including three short midwickets, a short third slip, two short covers, and fielders placed a step either side of the wicket about three-quarters down the pitch.

"I've been lucky that I've been under captains like Cameron White and Matthew Wade, and I've played on a lot of flat MCG wickets where you do have to be thinking outside the box – you have to make something out of nothing," Handscomb explained to cricket.com.au.

"You have to make a batsman think that a certain ball's coming that isn't actually coming, and mix their feet up or make them play in an area they don't want to play.

"So there might have been some random fields out there but there are always thought processes behind it."

Handscomb, 25, has already played 56 first-class matches and is viewed as one of the most promising batsmen in the country, though his selection as Australia A captain was by no means a fait accompli.

The right-hander made three hundreds and four fifties last Sheffield Shield season – including one of each in the Bushrangers' successful defence of their title – and finished as the competition's third-highest run-getter, with 784 at 43.55.

It prompted CA's National Selector Rod Marsh to remark on his leadership following the opening 'A' Series match, and install him as Chris Lynn's deputy for the quadrangular limited-overs component of the winter schedule.

"Peter led wonderfully in Australia A's victory over South Africa A at Allan Border Field in the longer format and will benefit from having a leadership role in the one-day matches," Marsh said.

"He shapes as one of this country's best up-and-coming leaders on the field."

And Handscomb believes his knowledge of the game, and the influence of the captains he has played under, have him well placed.

"I was pretty excited to grab (the captaincy) with both hands," he said. "It's not something I've ever tried to push for, but I've always thought about the game in that way.

"I've been standing in the slips next to guys like Cameron White, Dan Christian, Dave Hussey and Matthew Wade – we're always talking about the game, and I feel like I've got a relatively good cricket brain on me.

"So it's nice to captain a team that's been pretty good so far, and hopefully does the same the next game.

"It's a nice feather in the cap, it feels good, but the main thing for me now is to not only captain well but to score runs.

"I don't want to let that affect my batting, and I don't think it did (in Brisbane) – I feel like I'm batting well, so hopefully the runs come in this next game."

With Australia's current woes in Sri Lanka and a tour of India on the horizon for early 2017, Handscomb's repute as a competent player of spin could also hold him in good stead.

New Australia bowling coach David Saker said he wouldn't be surprised to see Handscomb reach higher honours down the track.

"He'd hold himself really well, but it's hard to break in (to the Test team)," Saker told News Ltd. "If it's not this season I think it will be down the track.

"With his ability to play spin and fast bowling, his name will keep getting brought up at the selection table, without a doubt.

"He's got a pretty uncomplicated game, he keeps it quite simple.

"In my opinion he plays quicks equally as good as he does spin."

Every match of the Australia A winter series will be live streamed on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live App.

Full Australia A series details

Australia A first-class squad v South Africa: Peter Handscomb (c), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Jon Holland, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Kurtis Patterson, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Chris Tremain, Sam Whiteman, Dan Worrall.

Australia A one-day squad: Chris Lynn (c), Peter Handscomb (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, Jake Lehmann, Glenn Maxwell, Joe Mennie, Kurtis Patterson, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain, Sam Whiteman, Dan Worrall.

National Performance Squad: Sean Abbott (NSW), Hilton Cartwright (WA), Kyle Gardiner (WA), David Grant (SA), Sam Grimwade (Vic), Sam Harper (Vic), Sam Heazlett (Qld), Clint Hinchliffe (WA), Josh Inglis (WA), Caleb Jewell (Tas), David Moody (WA), Arjun Nair (NSW), Tom O'Donnell (Vic), Matthew Renshaw (Qld), Matthew Short (Vic), Mitchell Swepson (Qld).

South Africa A four-day squad: Stephen Cook (c), Qaasim Adams, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Hardus Viljoen 

South Africa A one-day squad: Wayne Parnell (c), Qaasim Adams, Marchant de Lange, Reeza Hendricks, Heino Kuhn, Eddie Leie, Sisanda Magala, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Malusi Siboto, Khaya Zondo, David Miller, Dane Vilas 

India A squad: Naman Ojha (capt), Faiz Fazal, Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Varun Aaron, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, Barinder Sran, Shahbaz Nadeem, Sanju Samson.

Fixtures

Four-day matches 

30 July – 2 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
6 August – 9 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville

One-day Series

13 August, South Africa A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
14 August, Australia A v India A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
16 August, Australia A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
17 August, South Africa A v India A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
20 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
21 August, India A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
24 August, NPS v Australia A, Harrup Park, Mackay
25 August, South Africa A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
27 August, NPS v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
28 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Harrup Park, Mackay
30 August, Australia A v India A, Harrup Park, Mackay
31 August, South Africa A v NPS, Harrup Park, Mackay
3 September; Final 3 v 4, Harrup Park, Mackay
4 September, Final 1 v 2, Harrup Park, Mackay

Four-day matches

8-11 September, Australia A v India A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
15-18 September, Australia A v India A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane