Peter Handscomb says he has full confidence in his technique despite lack of runs

PETER Handscomb says it “sucks” to be missing the Boxing Day Test but has whacked his knockers declaring he won’t be forced in to changing anything about his technique.

Stuart Broad celebrates dismissing Peter Handscomb.

PETER Handscomb has whacked his technique knockers to the fence declaring he won’t be forced in to changing anything.

The Victorian looks set to be watching the Boxing Day Test as 12th man having lost his spot in the Aussie line up to all-rounder Mitch Marsh.

Handscomb was under siege in the second innings of the day/night Adelaide Test, from the English quicks and commentators everywhere who said his preference for playing off the back foot would continue to bring him undone on the big stage.

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In three innings during the first two Ashes Tests, Handscomb made just 62 runs, and was twice out LBW.

But pointing to the stunning success of Test captain Steve Smith, who is walking in the shadows of Don Bradman despite batting in a way no-one could coach, Handscomb, who has two Test hundreds under his belt this year rejected calls for him to have a technique rethink.

“I‘m quite confident in my batting at the moment,” he said on Friday.

Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh celebrate after Australia regained the Ashes.

“In Brisbane I was seeing them well and unfortunately just missed a ball on the stumps and then in Adelaide I was batting in two difficult periods both at night, and the ball was doing plenty there.
“So I’m not too worried about how my technique’s going or anything like that.

“It’s amazing what can come out when you have one bad Test albeit in tough conditions as well.

“I was doing exactly the same thing last year but I was making runs, so my technique was OK then. This year I’m doing the same thing but haven’t made the runs so all of a sudden my technique’s not good enough. It’s just funny how that can happen.

“Steve’s technique is not something you teach but it works for him, so I’m not worried about how my technique’s going, I just need to keep backing it in and I’m pretty confident I’ll make runs if selected.”

Handscomb, who said it “sucked” to miss what would have been his second home town Test, has opted to stay and train with the squad rather than join Big Bash outfit the Melbourne Stars.

Peter Handscomb talks to Greg Chappell.

He was also offered an opportunity to play some red ball cricket with his club side St Kilda this weekend too but preferred to practice his skills against his Test teammates, just in case he was needed to suit up.

“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 there,” Handscomb said.

“It sucks having to sit on the sidelines. But still awesome to be part of the squad and moving into the Boxing Day Test is going to be good fun.

“You need to be there ready to go with your long format, your Test skills ready to go rather than going back and trying to slog the white ball around and potentially changing a few things in your game too.

“It’s good to stay around the squad and make sure I’m ready to go if called upon.”