Handscomb steps up
Right-hand bat replaces hurt Finch in one-day squad
AUSTRALIA has added Peter Handscomb to its one-day squad in India after opener Aaron Finch succumbed to injury.
Finch will miss most of the five-match series, starting in Chennai tomorrow, after his troublesome right calf flared up during training.
With Australia also set to play three Twenty20 matches in India next month, Finch will remain with the squad while his progress is monitored.
“Aaron re-aggravated his pre-existing calf injury during warm-up at training yesterday,” team phsiotherapist Alex Kountouris said yesterday.
“He has had a scan in Chennai and although we believe it is not a serious recurrence he will not be available for the first few one-day matches here in India.
“He will remain with the squad while we assess the injury and establish his returnto-play timelines.”
It will be a short turnaround for Handscomb, who returned home from Australia’s Test tour of Bangladesh less than a week ago.
The classy right-handed batsman made his ODI debut against Pakistan in Perth last summer.
Middle-order batsman Travis Head, meanwhile, said he was confident a lack of cricket wouldn’t leave him underdone for the India series.
Head was one of several Australians who had not played a competitive 50-over match since early June.
The South Australian’s sole hit-out was Wednesday’s win over an Indian Board President’s XI, when he scored 65.
“I feel confident,” Head said. “It was nice to get some time in the middle the other day and get a feel for the wicket and conditions.”
Australia has strong recent form in ODIs on the subcontinent, winning seven of its past eight dating back to late 2013.
As well as this year’s Test tours of Bangladesh and India, Head said his teammates’ involvement in the Indian Premier League meant there’d be no unfamiliarity with the conditions.
“You’d seen from the other day, most of the batters came in and got into their work,” he said. “The bowlers did the same thing. So most guys know the conditions pretty well.”