Handscomb eyes Baggy Green dream

Peter Handscomb has had the high-profile backing, made an Australia A cricket tour and spoken to national selectors.

But now comes the hard part as the 24-year-old Victorian No.4 batsman dreams big and tries to stake his claim for a Test berth.

"It was just great to talk to those selectors and get an understanding of what I need to do," he said.

"Pretty much, the message was `just keep making runs' - that's the cricket currency.

"So that's all I can do."

The timing is perfect for Handscomb, given the Test team and the top order in particular are going through a period of transition.

Quick single: Finch recalled for Victoria

He started the Sheffield Shield last week with his first-class top score of 137 as Victoria beat Queensland.

It also demonstrated showed why Shane Warne mentioned Handscomb as a potential Test batsman three months ago in the wake of the Ashes series loss.

"You try not to read too much into it - Warnie's a good lad and obviously I had a bit of time with him at the Stars," Handscomb said.

"I always appreciate good words from such a great Australian cricketer.

"But it doesn't really matter what anyone else says.

"I have to be the one who makes the runs and basically force the selectors to pick me."

Handscomb impressed earlier this year during an Australia A tour to India.

But he also knows he is one of several young Australian batsmen either in the Test side or trying to claim a spot.

As he scored his 137 last week, debutant Travis Dean was making an even bigger impression at the other end.

He had a crucial first-innings partnership with Dean, who scored 154no and 109no as the Victorians beat Queensland.

Dean, not surprisingly, has retained his place in the team for the Shield game against NSW starting on Friday at the SCG.

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Victoria also recalled batsman Aaron Finch and paceman Chris Tremain, while James Pattinson has been rested and Peter Siddle is part of the Australian Test squad, although he has been named 12th man for Thursday's first Commonwealth Bank Test at the Gabba.

Watch: Highlights of Finch's 250 for CA XI

Handscomb said it was a selectors' nightmare who should open the batting for Victoria, given Finch has returned and Dean was so impressive on debut.

"I don't want to be in their (selectors') shoes, but it's a great position for us," Handscomb said.

"For a guy playing his first game, he was very mature.

"I loved being up the other end, just watching him do his thing."

Meanwhile, New South Wales have been forced to make seven changes to their team.

Debutant wicketkeeper Jay Lenton is among the seven new faces, with Steve Smith, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc all named for the first Test against New Zealand while a calf injury has ruled out all-rounder Sean Abbott.

Lenton, who has played eight games for the Blues in Futures League during the past four seasons, becomes the 737th player to represent NSW at first class level.

The 25-year-old former Central Coast junior forces his way into the side off the back of three first grade centuries for Manly this season, averaging almost 130 with the bat.

Quicks Gurinder Sandhu and Josh Lalor join Doug Bollinger as part of a new-look pace attack, while off-spinner Will Somerville replaces Lyon in the 12-man squad.

Middle order batsmen Ben Rohrer and Kurtis Patterson have also been recalled.

Victoria squad: Matthew Wade (captain), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Travis Dean, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain.

NSW squad: Moises Henriques (captain), Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Ed Cowan, Josh Lalor, Jay Lenton, Nic Maddinson, Stephen O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu, Will Somerville.