Handscomb wants Shield runs

TIRED of talking about his batting technique, Victorian cricket captain Peter Handscomb just wants to make runs.

Handscomb has been out of the Test side since January and must start the Sheffield Shield season with a flourish if he is to force his way back in this summer.

Victoria will open their Shield title defence from this Thursday against South Australia at Junction Oval.

“I’m just going to back in whatever I want to do and go from there when it comes to my technique,” the No.4 said, without revealing what — if any — changes he’d made to his batting. “There’s been enough said about it, so I’m just going to commit and do it.”

Handscomb’s unorthodox footwork at the crease has attracted plenty of scrutiny and he struggled last summer against the Indian Test attack.

He will lead a strong side this week, with Aaron Finch fresh from his career-best 188no in the one-day win over Queensland on October 1.

Nic Maddinson also continues to impress in his second season for Victoria. “He’s been doing well for us, he’s batted in four or five games (last season) and made three hundreds,” Handscomb said.

Once again Victoria will boast a powerful attack, spearheaded this week by James Pattinson, Chris Tremain and Scott Boland.

“It’s a great luxury, we have Patto and Sids (Peter Siddle) who are obviously fresh off the Ashes and then Tremain and Boland, who have taken 40-50 plus wickets for the last three or four years and really been the backbone of our bowling unit,” Handscomb said.