Handscomb puts friendship aside for Ashes

Peter Handscomb is making no allowances for his friendship with Jonny Bairstow as he plans further mental disintegration for his Yorkshire team-mate in the Ashes.

Bairstow was the main target for sledging in Brisbane, mainly on the subject of his head-butt greeting for Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar last month. Handscomb counts the England wicketkeeper as a friend, after playing with him for Yorkshire last summer.

But as Australia bid to go 2-0 up in the inaugural daynight Ashes Test, Handscomb is not about to relent.

He said: “When I played with him at Yorkshire we had a great time together and I really like Jonny. But it’s a different ball game now.

“During the Ashes it’s about winning the game for Australia. So if there’s a moment where we can exploit someone’s mental capabilities, we’re going to go about it.”