Peter Handscomb confirmed for Australia’s World Cup semi-final

Peter Handscomb will play against England … but Aussie coach coy on Matthew Wade.

Peter Handscomb bats for Australia A against Northamptonshire last month. Picture: Getty Images

Australian coach Justin Langer has unveiled a rare selection decision days before Cricket World Cup semi-final against England — and it’s Peter Handscomb who is the beneficiary.

Langer told a gathering of Australian and English media early this morning that Handscomb would not only be in the Australian squad of 15 but that the 28-year-old would be in the final XI for when Australia takes on England at Edgbaston tomorrow.

Langer refused to elaborate further about the Australian line-up, saying all would be revealed at the coin toss.

Matthew Wade has come in for the injured Usman Khawaja, but it is uncertain if the wicketkeeper-cum-batsman will play. The injuries and late adjustments, coupled with the anticipated flat batting wicket, is posing a selection conundrum for the Australian selectors.

On Wade, who has been in sparkling form for Australia A, Langer said: “If he plays then we’re confident he’ll do a really good job”. He then added that he had “the potential to play”.

In contrast, Langer was unusually effusive about Handscomb, who has also been playing for Australia A before being parachuted into the squad this week.

“I’ll tell you the truth. Peter Handscomb will definitely play, 100 per cent. He deserves it, he was really stiff not to be on this tour. He was so unlucky not to be in the initial squad after what he’d done to help us get to that point,” Langer said.

“He’s in good form, he played well for Australia A, he gives us nice balance through that middle order, he’s got great temperament, he plays the spin well and he’s on top of his game. So he’ll definitely play.”

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis got through a tough nets session at Edgbaston with no sign of the side strain he has been suffering from and Langer said he “did a good job today and he’s fit to go”.

It is likely that Handscomb will come into bat at number four, with Steve Smith moved up the order to three.

On the eve of the sudden death match, Langer was emphasising the team camaraderie, and he created a flap among British journalists when asked why he was “earthing”, a reference to the mysterious walk-around-the-ground-with-shoes-off on Monday.

“What was it called?” Langer said.

“I don’t know what you call it, we just took our shoes and socks off and walked a lap of the oval. It’s a nice thing to do, it’s a nice place to be. (Mathew Hayden) Haydos and I used to do it, just as a bit of a ritual before every Test match.”

Langer said the barefoot walk — and there were no bindis — was about staying as relaxed as possible.

“We know we’re going to be up against it. England are a great team and we’ve got to be at our best, and the best way to be at your best is to be nice and relaxed,” he explained.

“It was just walking a lap of the oval with our shoes off. We could’ve done it with our shoes on and nobody would’ve said anything.”

Langer said the current team was more chilled — on the back of winning matches — than this time last year.

“If you go back 12 months there wasn’t much to be relaxed and chilled about in Australian cricket, was there?” he said.

“We went through a major crisis in our cricket. It didn’t just affect our cricket, it affected our country. There wasn’t too much to be relaxed about. We got to work hard on being more humble in what we do and being focused on playing good cricket.”

During the training session, Austin Marsh, son of Shaun and grandson of Geoff, was sung happy birthday for turning three and he then practised his left-handed batting with his dad.

Langer reflected how he remembered Shaun and Mitchell on Ashes tours when they were little.

“It is just a new generation of Marsh’s, and I see Austin is left-handed as well. If he was in England, the EPL would sign him up on a bit right now I reckon. It is nice to see the kids running around, we have a great bunch and it’s nice to see the families around.”

AUSTRALIA (likely): Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon.