Peter Handscomb became the fourth Australian century maker early in the English county season

There;s a huge cohort of Australians playing in England ahead of the World Test Championship final and plenty of them are making hundreds.

Two days after Cameron Green made a century on return to cricket in England, Peter Handscomb served a reminder of his worth with an unbeaten 142 at Old Trafford.

The veteran Victorian, who was a shock omission from the Test tour of Sri Lanka in February after joining the squad at the end of the season against India, is averaging 96 in county cricket this season.

Days out from his 34th birthday, Handscomb whacked his 142 off 222 balls playing for Leicestershire, continuing a run of Australian century makers in the UK.

𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 🏏

Rehan Ahmed and Peter Handscomb both hit hundreds, before three late wickets helped Leicestershire set up a victory charge on the third day at Old Trafford. 🔋 #Foxes🦊

— Leicestershire CCC 🦊 (@leicsccc) April 20, 2025

He joined Victorian teammate Marcus Harris, Green, who returned with a bang in his first game since last September playing for Gloucestershire, and his county captain and former Test opener Cameron Bancroft in reaching triple figures earlier in the season.

Handscomb entered the clash with Harris’ Lancashire on the back of two half-centuries, and in just four innings has 288 runs, at an average of 96, the best in Division Two of the county championship.

Playing his first season in Division One for Nottingham, another Victorian, Fergus O’Neill, is the leading wicket-taker with 18 scalps through the early part of the season.

A swarm of Australians are playing in the English county season pushing their case for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, which will be played at Lord’s in July.

Originally published as Peter Handscomb became the fourth Australian century maker early in the English county season