Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Peter Handscomb could play 1st Test if Cameron Green can’t bowl | Will Cameron Green bowl in the 1st Test vs India?
Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb might be back in reckoning to make the playing XI for the first India-Australia Test that starts from February 9 in Nagpur if all-rounder Cameron Green is unfit to bowl. Handscomb’s proficiency against spin bowlers puts him in pole position to replace Green, who is recovering from a fractured finger, should Australia choose to make that call.
“He’s really important. It’s been well documented over a period of time that his play against spin is excellent, and we feel as though he’s returned probably to what he was producing two or three years ago,” Andrew Macdonald, head coach of the Australian cricket team, was quoted in a report by News18.
Handscomb gives us flexibility if Green can’t bowl – Andrew McDonald
Handscomb played in all four matches when Australia last toured India in early 2017. He had scored 198 runs across eight innings, averaging 28.29 with a top-score of 72*. McDonald acknowledged that Handscomb has scored good runs in the Sheffield Shield on slower surfaces. Further, his ability to double up as a wicketkeeper is a plus should anything happen to Alex Carey.
“Lots of runs in Shield cricket on those slower surfaces as well. He’s able to keep as well, so it gives us every option for Josh (Inglis) not to be there and if anything were to happen to Alex Carey, there’s flexibility there, but also in close fielder as well, bat pad, highly valued when you tour the subcontinent,” McDonald further explained.
The head coach thus played down concerns over Green’s possible unavailability. He explained that the Australian playing XI has numerous southpaws in their ranks currently and hence Handscomb will add value with his right-handed batting. However, McDonald also mentioned that they look at Green as a top-six batsman primarily, thus indicating that the 23-year-old could even make it to the team as a specialist batter.
Green, who was acquired by Mumbai Indians for Rs 17.5 crore in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, broke a finger in his right-hand whilst batting in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Melbourne.
