Timing two-fold in Pete's Townsville ton

Peter Handscomb's century against South Africa A in Townsville, his eighth at first-class level, was a textbook demonstration of perfect timing.

Not just because of the 20 boundaries he pushed, punched and drove in his near flawless innings of 137 scored against a strong South African attack featuring Test players Dane Piedt, Wayne Parnell and Hardus Viljoen.

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But coming in the immediate aftermath of Australia's latest spin shellacking on the subcontinent, the Victorian's performance could not have come at a more opportune juncture of his career, particularly as National Selector Mark Waugh was among the handful of spectators scattered around Tony Ireland Stadium on Monday.

Handscomb's elevation into Test cricket has long been forecast, ever since he batted for more than four hours in posting 71 on first-class debut as a 20-year-old almost five years ago.

Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting and Chris Rogers have all pegged him for higher honours and his status as Australia A's captain for the four-day portion of this winter series is a significant vote of confidence from the national selection panel.

But the lamentable performance of Australia's batting line-up over the past fortnight could accelerate the realisation of his Baggy Green dream.

Possibly for Australia's tour of India early next year, or perhaps even sooner.

It's yet to be seen if the radical proposal of Australia selecting a specialist batting line-up for future Tests on the subcontinent, an idea floated on Saturday by captain Steve Smith following his side's latest humbling display against the turning ball, comes to fruition.

If it does, Handscomb's name will be near the top of the list of potential inclusions when the Australians prepare for the unenviable task of breaking their Asian hoodoo against India's abundance of top-class tweakers across four Tests in February and March next year.

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Not just because of his reputation as one of the best players of spin in the country, but because he's shown a willingness to take heed of a mantra Australia's Test batsmen adopted but failed to live up to in Sri Lanka – that of 'batting big'.

"As a batter, when you walk off with 137 you're a little disappointed because you're set and you're in and you want to make as big a total as you can," Handscomb said today.

"I was just trying to make as many runs as I could.

"I feel like I've been hitting the ball well so it's nice to go out there and show that I'm in good form and making runs."

The 25-year-old believes his repute as a competent player of spin – his former state coach Greg Shipperd has labelled him second only to former Test skipper Michael Clarke when it comes to playing slow bowlers – can be something of a curse at times.

And as the third-highest run-getter in the Sheffield Shield last season, including a match-winning double of 112 and 61no in the final, he's shown he's equally adept against the fast men too.

"The last time someone said I was one of the best players of spin, my next five dismissals were to spinners," he told News Ltd earlier this year.

"Obviously I’m quite confident against spin, I use my feet and attack them.

"But batting at No.4, I spend most of my time against the new ball or against quicks."

Another of Handscomb's former mentors at domestic level, newly appointed Australian bowling coach David Saker, agrees.

"In my opinion he plays quicks equally as good as he does spin," Saker said. "He's got a pretty uncomplicated game, he keeps it quite simple."

And Handscomb's simple and uncomplicated method was on full display in Townsville during an innings that spanned two days, three sessions and 244 deliveries.

Much like Test incumbent Adam Voges, one of the most likely candidates to drop out of the side should his current form continue, Handscomb always seems to have 10 or 20 more runs to his name than you'd think. Blink and he's moved to 20, blink again and he's raising his bat for a half-century.

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A push for one here. A dab for two there. And every so often, an expansive stroke when a tiring bowler errs in line or length, no doubt frustrated by the right-hander's near flawless defence.

In North Queensland, the majority of Handscomb's boundaries came between point and third man, some cut firmly and others delicately bunted through gaps in the cordon to the vacant boundary rope.

And always, like his innings as a whole, with impeccable timing.