Dropped Handscomb opts against BBL stint

Peter Handscomb is set to remain on red-ball alert for Australia during the Magellan Ashes, with the dumped batsman opting against a Twenty20 hit in the KFC BBL.

Handscomb, who was axed in favour of Mitch Marsh for the third Ashes Test, remains part of Australia's 13-man squad for the Boxing Day bout against England.

Marsh's maiden Test ton means the Victorian will almost certainly be running drinks at the MCG.

Unless there's an injury to one of Australia's top six, Handscomb's next chance to don the Baggy Green is likely to come on March 1, when the Aussies start a four-Test series in South Africa.

The 26-year-old could have been parachuted in for Melbourne Stars' BBL season-opener at the Gabba on Wednesday.

But Handscomb is determined to be in the right frame of mind should anything happen to an incumbent batsman, having spent time in the WACA nets on all five days of the third Test.

"You need to be there ready to go with your long-format, Test skills," he told reporters on Friday.

"Rather than going back and trying to slog the white ball around and potentially changing a few things in your game.

"It's good to stay around the squad and make sure I'm ready to go if called upon."

Handscomb had mixed feelings about his omission, admitting he couldn't fault the logic of wanting an allrounder on a flat WACA wicket.

"They were long fielding innings," he said, having claimed an astonishing catch as a substitute fielder to kick-start a game-changing collapse of 6-35 on day two in Perth.

"I can't bowl, Mitch can bowl.

"It sucks having to sit on the sidelines. I was frustrated to be left out but that's part of it and we won the Test and won the Ashes so there's no issues.

"I know how well I can play. I'm pretty confident I'll make runs if selected."

The Stars' next BBL clash is in Perth on Boxing Day, when Handscomb is expected to sit out again.

"It'd want to be a quick flight," he said.

Handscomb is the latest player to suffer from the JLT Sheffield Shield mid-season hiatus, with the first-class competition now on hold until the BBL is run and won.

"This is the harsh reality of the schedule now. The players know that and accept it but it's not easy for someone on the fringes of the Test team," former opener Simon Katich said last week.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21