Peter Handscomb’s Test spot could be under threat after he played a torturous innings yesterday, as England fought back on Day 4 of the second Ashes Test.
It’s customary for cricket pundits and fans, and sometimes even selectors, to make hasty calls on players after they begin a high-profile series with a few failures.
In Handscomb’s case, his returns haven’t been diabolical – he’s made 61 runs at an average of 21 in this series and has an impressive Test record, with 805 runs at 47.
Rather, the manner in which his technique has been picked apart by the England quicks is of concern.
This moment always seemed likely to arrive – after just his third Test innings, a year ago, I dedicated an article to my misgivings about Handscomb’s technique.
At that stage, he had made a barnstorming start to his Test career but I predicted that his tendency to play from extremely deep in the crease would eventually be tested by skilful quicks.
England’s opening bowlers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, exploited this idiosyncrasy during Handscomb’s first two innings in this series as he twice was trapped LBW. These dismissals seemed to scramble Handscomb’s mind based on his bizarre innings yesterday.
In one of the strangest knocks played by an Australian batsman in recent memory, Handscomb wandered all over his crease as if he was lost. While Handscomb knew where he was – in the middle of Adelaide Oval – he appeared to have no idea what he was doing there.
He started by playing even deeper in his crease than usual, almost treading on his stumps in his stance, and then looking to push forward aggressively at anything full. When he was beaten several times on the outside edge, Handscomb began shuffling way across his stumps, at times ending up with both feet as much as 15 centimetres outside the off stump.
From this odd position, one even Steve Smith rarely adopts, Handscomb was trying to shovel the ball to the leg side against the direction of the swing. It was an approach you would expect only to see in low-level grade cricket, one which contradicted batting logic.
AAP Image/David Crosling
After a sequence of ugly, failed attempts to strike through the legside, Handscomb swiftly went to Plan C. This strategy saw him do the very opposite – staying leg side of the ball, with all three stumps clearly exposed, to try to target the offside.
He played and missed several times, just as he had while employing his first two tactics.
Then his horrendous innings ended as he lunged at a length delivery outside off and edged to third slip. In the commentary box for English broadcaster BT, Australian legend Ricky Ponting was gobsmacked by the innings and scathing of the skittish knock.
Now, it must be said that England bowled exceptionally well to the Victorian, particularly Anderson, who produced a sensational spell of swing and seam.
After being hugely disappointing during England’s first three innings in the field this series, first change paceman Chris Woakes also made the most of the favourable bowling conditions. Broad went wicketless, yet looked very threatening.
In rolling Australia for just 138, England limited the hosts lead to 353, a chase which looked difficult but not impossible.
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England made an unexpectedly swift start to their chase, cruising to 0-43 after 13 overs due to some aggressive batting by Mark Stoneman and loose offerings from the Australian opening bowlers. Neither Mitchell Starc nor Josh Hazlewood was able to match the precision displayed earlier by Anderson, Woakes and Broad.
Not for the first time this series, it was first-change bowlers Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon who were most impressive. Lyon tied both Stoneman and Cook in knots, before eventually dismissing the latter LBW. When Stoneman sliced a loose drive to Usman Khawaja at gully, and James Vince edged to Handscomb at slip, England were 3-91 and at danger of collapsing.
Instead, the tourists slowly turned the pressure back on to Australia via a plucky stand between captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan. While both Root and Malan were streaky – neither batsman looked secure at the crease – their 78-run stand frustrated the Aussies. It took a wonderful delivery from Cummins to slice Malan in half and end this resistance.
Australia remain overwhelming favourites to win this Test, with England needing a further 178 runs and the second new ball due in 12 overs’ time.
But England showed enough heart to suggest Australia may have to toil hard for the win.
Aidan
Guest
What about the 7 previous descisions that got overturned? Once a captain loses faith in the umpire getting even a basic descision right, why wouldn’t he use his reviews more liberally. The previous descison that got overturned where not line ball descisons, in fact there were a few that were clearly the wrong descison, even to the naked eye
JamesH
Roar Guru
Oooooooh, good pickup! You're never too old to debut for Australia, particularly if you have pedigree! Don - no, I actually think Shaun Marsh has earned the right to play test cricket over the last few years. Public judgement of him seems to be skewed by the fact that his early periods in the team were unwarranted. Only Smith and Warner have more compelling long-form records since 2014. What bothered me was his selection over Maxwell, who I felt had done enough to justify retention. I though Marsh might come in to open if the selectors wanted Bancroft to take the gloves.
josh
Roar Rookie
Has anyone considered Mitchell Marsh as a potential replacement? He can do it all. # levers
Ben
Roar Rookie
The problem is he has just started bowling after returning from injury and he is being picked mainly for his bowling otherwise Maxwell is ahead of him. If they were worried about the workload they should have picked Bird and Maxwell.
Don Freo
Guest
There was one exchange that looked amusing...probably not sledging at all. Nothing else. Precious and dishonest comments from Nardio and World's Biggest.
Don Freo
Guest
McGrath was maligned?
Don Freo
Guest
Mitch is certainly doing that now. Don't confuse a career average with current form. A career average means nothing at selection time. Current form is the only thing that counts. His current form is batting at #4. Check out some cricket this season. It's worth following.
Don Freo
Guest
He has proven you wrong already.
danno
Guest
The outswinger Broad bowled in he 1st innings At Gabba and 2nd Innings Anderson outswinger Adelaide. Both chasing outside off. He had an ordinary county season in English seaming conditions apart from 1 big score. Hope he proves me wrong and is around to do well Ashes 2019. Renshaw will be back by then, too good a player.
Stephen
Guest
So khawaja's 50 in the first innings didn't count, and the fact he top scored in the second innings, he is one of the few guys we have who scores in pressure situations along with smith
FineLegandNo11
Roar Rookie
So can I have your house now?!
Simoc
Guest
I don't like Handscombs technique at all. He makes Smith look classic.While he is obviously very talented I can't see him scoring runs in England. I'de much prefer Glen Maxwell in that spot.
Don Freo
Guest
Danno, have you forgotten that 173 run undefeated opening stand already? Defect in technique there?Or was it chasing a wide ball that led to Bancroft's run out? Perhaps you are referring to the magnificent outswinger that Anderson bowled as the defect in Bancroft's technique. I'll stick with the experts on that one.
danno
Guest
Prior to the series started Skull said Handcomb would be Anderson's bunny as he plays so deep. Skull is a good analyst. Australia’s problem is the batting line up. Other than Smith & possibly Warner the rest through age or form dont look likely to be around for the next ashes. Bancroft chases the ball outside off ; im off the Khawaja band wagon, very inconsistent, Handscomb technique; Marsh age & Paine age.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Ronan, you were spot on with that article. Handscombs technique is the batting equivalent of Paul Adams bowling action. The way he twists the bat face open on his back lift is another unnecessary complication. Steve Smith can get away with his idiosyncricies because he has a fantastic eye. Handscomb however is not as blessed hence he is forced to bat on top of the stumps. I'd have no problem if he was dropped for Maxwell who's innocuous little offies would be a welcome relief to spell the quicks for 10-15 overs/day.
Bakkies
Guest
'Which makes the concern over the bowler workloads all the more strange – we have a guy who is already proven and reliable at test level tearing up the first class format if someone needed a rest after the follow-on.' The issue is that he bowls at the same pace as Hazlewood so you fall in to the same trap as England has by putting the two of them in the same attack if Starc or Cummins go down. Other express options in Behrendorf, Pattinson and Coulter Nile are out injured.
Bakkies
Guest
Agreed Perry. He didn't make many runs when he was playing in the Shield games.
DaveJ
Guest
If you can’t bat at no6, ie averaging 35 plus with the occasional century, you shouldn’t be there at all, all rounder or not. M Marsh has shown no sign of that and would need two or three years of outstanding Shield form to be given another try. They say you need the all rounder when the opposition gets a big score and the bowlers have to work, but if the oppo get a big total that’s precisely when you need your best bats. People who rabbit on about allrounders must have been before 2006. The good teams with great attacks don’t need an all rounder - the Aussies under Waugh and the Chappells, and the great West Indies teams.
Don Freo
Guest
You guys really think that Shaun Marsh shouldn't be in the side?
13th Man
Guest
Don't forget Dan Marsh!!