Scheduling squeeze forces Ashes re-think

Peter Handscomb smiles when asked what his surprise one-day resurgence means for his chances of winning back his Test spot for the Ashes later this year.

Having gone from a Test specialist to an ODI-only player in just two weeks, Handscomb is now faced with a 2019 schedule that would frustrate and excite in equal measure.

Assuming he’s picked for Australia’s ODI tours of India and the UAE as well as the World Cup, the right-hander is unlikely to play any first-class cricket in the next six months, limiting his chances of winning an Ashes berth after he was dropped from the Test squad 10 days ago.

It’s the kind of scheduling headache Australia’s selectors face on a regular basis and one fellow Ashes hopefuls like Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell will also have to deal with in the first half of the year.

But with a World Cup spot within reach after an impressive return to the coloured clothing, Handscomb played another solid forward defence when asked about the scheduling conflict.

“Any runs are good runs,” he said with a grin.

“I’m just trying to play for Australia in any format. If I’m doing well in the one-dayers, happy days.

“I can push my case at some stage for red-ball again, but at the moment I’ve got to concentrate on the white ball.”

Handscomb top-scored twice in the three-match Gillette ODI Series loss to India, his recall part of a revamped Australian batting strategy after a winless streak that has now stretched to six bilateral series over two years.

After a successful JLT One-Day Cup campaign with Victoria that featured four fifties from seven games, the right-hander was given a clear mandate upon his recall.

And he says the Aussies have unashamedly looked towards the world’s leading one-day side, World Cup favourites England, for a blueprint.

“They go pretty hard, but they’ve got their controllers as well,” Handscomb says of the world No.1.

“They have (Joe) Root and (Eoin) Morgan who play that holding role in the middle.

“I’m looking to go at a run a ball and play the spin really well.

“We’re looking to rotate the strike against spin and take it deep. The power we’ve got in this team is amazing, as long as we get them in the last 10 overs.

“If you change your game plan, it’s not going to work straight away. For us its worked pretty well pretty quickly, but we’ve got some things to learn."

Handscomb added he’s confident he could take the wicketkeeping gloves in the one-day side if required, although he’s backed incumbent keeper Alex Carey to hold onto his spot.

With two members of the current top seven set to drop out of the side assuming banned duo Steve Smith and David Warner return for the World Cup, handing Handscomb the gloves would give Australia the flexibility to play an extra specialist batsman if Carey is unable to cement his spot.

Handscomb took the gloves for the knockout stages of the JLT Cup in October and said he’s capable of doing the same at international level.

“I’m willing to do it,” he said.

“I obviously do it for the Stars as well (in the KFC BBL). I know that’s 20 overs, but it’s still ticking it over.

“I’m ready to go if need be, but obviously Kez is our vice-captain, he does a very good job behind the stumps and bats beautifully. So I’d be surprised (if I was asked).”

Qantas tour of India

First T20: February 24, Bengaluru

Second T20: February 27, Visakhapatnam

First ODI: March 2, Hyderabad

Second ODI: March 5, Nagpur

Third ODI: March 8, Ranchi

Fourth ODI: March 10, Mohali

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi