Peter keeps his hand in
Handscomb set to take gloves if needed
PETER Handscomb is using dusty pitches in Darwin to improve both batting and glovework, saying he is open to taking the keeping gloves in Bangladesh.
Handscomb served as stumper for Australia during day three of this year’s SCG Test, when Matthew Wade was sick.
He was also behind the stumps throughout the ensuing ODI tour of New Zealand, when Wade tweaked his back.
However, both of those occasions were temporary meas- ures. Handscomb has reiterated throughout his career he is a back-up keeper and batting is the No. 1 priority.
It’s highly unlikely the Victorian batsman will be asked to keep throughout the two-Test series that starts on August 27 and will be played on turning tracks.
But there is every chance Wade could miss some part of a game because of injury or illness, so Handscomb is getting a crash course in subcontinent keeping during the intra-squad match.
“It’s an interesting one. I was doing some (recent) white-ball keeping for Yorkshire in England,” Handscomb said after scoring 105 on day one of the tune-up.
“I’m happy to do it if it’s good for team balance, if it opens up another position for a batter or bowler.
“But first and foremost, I’ve always said that batting is my No. 1 and then keeping is definitely second fiddle.”
Handscomb is behind the stumps for David Warner’s XI in the three-day game giving him a chance to learn more about the intricacies of Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar’s bowling. The 26-year-old, who debuted during last year’s daynight Test in Adelaide, and Wade will both benefit from Brad Haddin’s recent appoint- ment as fielding coach. Haddin worked with Handscomb in New Zealand earlier this year but also mentored him last year during an Australia A series.
“He’s very capable with the gloves and it’s a luxury to have someone like him in a touring party,” Haddin said earlier this year.
“He’s too much value to Australian cricket as a batsman at the moment.’’