Handscomb to hang tough, says coach

Australia batting coach Graeme Hick expects Peter Handscomb to stick with his unique batting technique despite calls from two Australian greats that it is not up to international standard.

Test legends Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne suggested Handscomb's batting approach, which sees him stand deep in his crease and play predominantly off the back foot, cannot thrive at the highest level after he was dismissed lbw for 13 playing back to a full ball from India paceman Ishant Sharma.

While Ponting said he'd like to see the selectors stick with Handscomb for the Boxing Day Test, Warne said picking the Victorian is like a "lamb to the slaughter".

But wind the clock back two years and Handscomb's technique was just an interesting quirk, not a mechanical deficiency.

Image Id: BCBA1B31F4ED4B7F8DE52DDD4E9814CD Image Caption: Handscomb plays well back in his crease // Getty

The then 25-year-old enjoyed a red-hot start to his Test career, scoring 54 on debut in a pink-ball Test against South Africa before scoring his maiden century in the Baggy Green a match later in Brisbane against Pakistan.

He added another hundred in the New Year at the SCG and finished his first home Test summer averaging a Bradmanesque 99.75.

But a ruthless interrogation of his technique and temperament by master England seam bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson the following summer left Handscomb searching for answers on the run.

He was dropped after two Ashes Tests in 2017-18 despite Australia holding a 2-0 series advantage.

Weight of runs for Victoria in the JLT Sheffield Shield competition saw him return to the Test side at the start of this season, but in four innings to date he's averaging 17 in the Domain Test series against a supreme all-round Indian attack.

Despite the noise around Handscomb's batting style, Hick is of the belief the right-hander will stick to the game plan that's seen him have success at Test level in the past. 

"He's really strong minded about the way he wants to play his game," Hick told SEN radio on Monday.

"He started his Test career and had success against Pakistan and like everyone, every side does their homework, everything's analysed, everything down to where you're going to pitch the ball.

"He tried to tinker a little bit but he's gone back to batting to how he wants to bat.

"I didn't chat to him yesterday because he was disappointed, but I'll have a chat with him this morning and just see what way he wants to take it from here.

"We've discussed various options in the past which he tried. Whether he tried them long enough and didn't feel comfortable in them I don't know.

"He's sort of toying with it because he's had a good start to the Shield season, obviously international cricket's a different level.

"Knowing Pete there's a good chance he'll back himself the way he plays. At the end of the day he's out there making the decision.

"There's no point in him going out there and trying to bat like someone else."

Playing from the crease, Handscomb does not take a big stride to the pitch of the ball when looking to drive down the ground.

Hick says it's an area Handscomb can improve on, not only as a scoring option but to put the pressure back on the bowler.

"Without doubt he's missing a few balls on the front foot," Hick said.

"When the bowler's able to bowl that full to any batsman you're not reversing the pressure on them and (it) gives the bowler a little more leeway.

"As a batter you want to be able to reverse pressure.

"There will be times when you have to sit tight, but I think he's certainly missing a few balls there that would help him get into his innings.

"We've had those discussions and will revisit them today and just see what he wants to do.

"He's been working at it, he started well in the Shield season, we've just got to see if there's a breakdown in what's happening in Shield cricket and what's happening out here."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval, India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar