Having performed consistently in the one-day internationals against India, Peter Handscomb, the Australia middle-order batsman, said he was looking forward to continue his progress in the format.
Handscomb was dropped from the Test side for the series against Sri Lanka after ordinary performances against India, and he made no secret of the fact that he wants to claw his way back in the Test team.
But his immediate focus is to build on his white-ball progress, especially with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 just around the corner.
Handscomb made two fifties in Australia’s 2-1 defeat to India, and his knock of 73 in the ODI was crucial to Australia’s 34-run win. He looked solid against the spinners and was able to rotate strike in the middle-overs against India’s top-quality attack.
“Any runs are good runs,” Handscomb was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “I’m just trying to play for Australia in any format. If I’m doing well in the one-dayers, happy days. I can push my case at some stage for the red ball again, but at the moment I’ve got to concentrate on the white ball.”
Another role that Handscomb is happy to embrace, for sake of adding depth to the batting line-up, is wicket-keeping. He already does the job for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, and said he’ll be ready to take on those duties should it come to that.
“I’m willing to do it,” he said. “I obviously do it for the Stars as well (in the BBL). I know that’s 20 overs, but it’s still ticking it over.
“I’m ready to go if need be, but obviously Kez (Alex Carey) is our vice-captain, he does a very good job behind the stumps and bats beautifully. So I’d be surprised.”
