Peter Handscomb sent Australia’s selectors a timely reminder of his class with a superb unbeaten 131 on the opening day of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at the MCG on Wednesday.
The former Test batter, who had not scored a first-class century in 25 innings, walked in with Victoria wobbling at 44 for 2 in the first hour after winning the toss and batting on a straw-coloured surface with very little live grass. He was still there at stumps, 131 not out off 254 balls with five fours, having faced nearly half of the deliveries bowled on the day as Victoria reached 292 for 3.
Handscomb found an able ally in Blake Macdonald, who was unbeaten on 74 off 156 balls at stumps, the pair adding 136 runs for the fourth wicket. Ashley Chandrasinghe had earlier made 53, and the home side finished the day in a commanding position against an undefeated Western Australia side on one of the flattest day-one pitches the MCG has produced in many years.
The century was built on patience rather than power, just five boundaries in 254 balls, and on Handscomb’s well-known strength against spin. He handled Australia A spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who sent down 21 overs for one wicket at a cost of 67 runs, and former Test spinner Ashton Agar on a surface that offered the bowlers little, as the Shield returned to the MCG for the first time this season. Rocchiccioli, who has established himself as the Shield’s leading wicket-taking spinner over the past five summers, is himself pushing for a place on the India tour after seeking advice from South Africa off-spin great Simon Harmer.
The timing could hardly be better. Marnus Labuschagne was dropped for the New Zealand Tests earlier this week, and chair of selectors George Bailey has flagged that Australia’s squad for the first Test against New Zealand in Perth will be picked at the end of this round of Shield matches. Handscomb, who made his first century of the season, has kept his name front and centre for a recall, with the tour of India in January also on the horizon.
Victoria will resume on day two at 292 for 3, with Handscomb 19 runs short of 150 and the pair well set to bat Western Australia out of the match.
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- Craig Ervine’s Maiden Double Century Seals Historic High-Scoring Draw as Zimbabwe and Afghanistan Share Seven Centuries in Sharjah — https://t20star.com/craig-ervines-maiden-double-century-seals-historic-high-scoring-draw-as-zimbabwe-and-afghanistan-share-seven-centuries-in-sharjah/
