No Victorian playing in Boxing Day Test for first time in 10 years

FOR the first time in 10 years there will be no home town hero at the MCG for Boxing Day but Victorian officials are adamant it will be a one-off.

Peter Handscomb played last year on Boxing Day. Picture: Michael Klein

THE MCG will be without a home town hero to cheer on Boxing Day for the first time in a decade but Victorian cricket officials are adamant it will be a one-off.

Two Bushrangers, first Glenn Maxwell then Peter Handscomb have found themselves out of the Test team in the past two months, despite both making centuries for Australia this year.

A maiden Test ton in Perth by Handscomb’s replacement Mitch Marsh has guaranteed the all-rounder a place on Boxing Day leaving the national team without a Victorian representative at the MCG for the first time since 2007.

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Cricket Victoria general manager Shaun Graf conceded that the No.1 priority of the Bushrangers program was to get players in the national teams.

And while Maxwell and Aaron Finch are walk-ups in the one-day team, with Handscomb also a chance to take the gloves for Australia in January, not having a player in the Test side was disappointing.

“We’re extremely disappointed to be quite honest, we’ve changed our whole strategic focus over the past three years to get Victorians in to the Australian teams. We have been very successful in getting them in to one-dayers and the Twenty20s,” Graf said.

Peter Handscomb was dropped from the Australian team after the second Ashes Test. Picture: Sarah Reed

“In Test cricket we have got Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb who have been there, and Matthew Wade when he was our Victorian captain. James Pattinson and Peter Siddle have been in there as well.

“Unfortunately as it’s turned out, Peter Handscomb looks to have missed out, Glenn Maxwell didn’t get another opportunity which is disappointing.

“But we think we have some bright talent coming through, and some players who could play for Australia at Test level as well in limited overs cricket. We are doing everything we can to make that happen.”

Three Victorians were recently included in the Australian Under 19 team for January’s World Cup including Will Sutherland, son of Cricket Australia boss James, who was named vice-captain.

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Glenn Maxwell can’t break into the Australian Test team despite posting big scores for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield. Picture: Getty Images

The Bushrangers also have high hopes for gun young batsman Will Pucovski, who will return to club cricket in January after a series of concussions.

And with the pending opening of CV’s new multimillion-dollar purpose built facility at the Junction Oval, Graf said the young talent would be given every opportunity to get to the highest level.

“We certainly think we have a good batch of young players in our youth system,” Graf said.

“It may not be immediate results, but we do think over the next few years we will have a good chance of getting our players come through and represent us in the Test team.”