In the event that Cameron Green is unable to make it back in time for the beginning of Australia’s series against India on February 9, head coach and selector Andrew McDonald indicated that the team is considering the possibility of recalling Peter Handscomb to bat in the middle order because of his ability to play spin.
Green, a seam-bowling all-rounder, is also chosen in the Test team with Handscomb despite the fact that he is currently nursing a fractured finger. According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, McDonald was cited as stating, “He’s incredibly significant.”
“It’s been well documented over a period of time that his performance against spin is exceptional, and we feel as though he’s returned probably to what he was producing two or three years ago,” said the player. “We feel as though he’s returned probably to what he was doing two or three years ago.”
Ahead of the four-Test series that will determine whether or not they qualify for the World Test Championship Final, both Handscomb and Green are currently participating in batting practises at the Bon Andrews Oval in North Sydney, which are being held on specially designed “scarified” pitches. This is so that they can gain experience with match simulation before the series begins.
In 2017, Handscomb was also a part of the group that travelled to India for their final trip. As a wicketkeeper, he also contributes to the team’s utility, making him an extremely valuable player.
“There were a lot of runs scored in the Shield competition even on the slower courts. 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, which is highly valued when you tour the subcontinent. He is able to keep as well, so it gives us every option for Josh (Inglis) not to be there.
“We consider him as a significant option for the right hand role. We have a large number of players who are left-handed, so having a right-handed option is quite crucial for us.
We believe that we have some strong choices available to us in the event that there are any late alterations to the lineup, or if Cameron Green does not make it to that first Test.
Green’s bowling is considered a bonus by the team, according to McDonald. “We value his (Green’s) hitting first and foremost really; he’s a batsman in our top six and we value that,” McDonald said.
“Bowling presents him with his greatest obstacle at the moment given where he is positioned. There is an insufficient amount of loading space there, which is one of the primary reasons that we were able to enter this camp and mode so quickly.
“Tomorrow, he will have another appointment with the surgeon; at that point, which is about the four-week mark, the surgeon should give him the go-ahead and tell him that the bone has successfully mended.
“I don’t want to get too technical here, but after that, it seems like it should just be a matter of working him up to his normal capacity and observing how he does during each session.
The coach went on to say that “building confidence” was the most important thing, as well as “setting him up to succeed in that first Test match, having a good enough time, that will be the essential question.”
Mitchell Starc, the injured fast bowler for Australia, returned to training for the first time since his injury, although it is likely that he will come late for the tour before the second test in Delhi.
Kieran Meurant, the curator of the North Sydney Oval, was praised by McDonald as well for preparing a pitch that was comparable to those in India.
“According to McDonald, “We feel as though the surfaces we received there are quite comparable to what we’re going to confront in India, which is very tough to recreate.”
However, we have a sense that we are getting closer to that goal, which suggests that the ground crew has done an excellent job.
