One of Australia’s comeback kids might have his dreams of a Test recall dashed after he was injured in club cricket.
Hours before being included in the 18-man squad for Australia’s tour of India, Peter Handscomb collapsed in pain and eventually left the field while playing on Tuesday night.
Opening the batting for St Kilda against Melbourne in the Victorian Super Slam – the state’s T20 competition – Handscomb smacked his second six of the day before falling to the ground in pain and retiring hurt.
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He left the field on 16 off 8 balls, and did not return.
It looked as though the damage was done a few balls prior, when he took a short delivery to the body.
While nothing has been confirmed yet, he has been sent for scans with the hopes that the injury is just bruising, rather than something more serious.
Chairman of selectors Geroge Bailey gave Handscomb a ringing endorsement when the squad was locked in.
”Peter Handscomb deserves his place back in the squad,” he said.
“His domestic form has been strong recently and Pete has proven he can perform at Test level.
“His experience against spin on the subcontinent is valuable and he is also an exceptionally good close to the wicket catcher.”
Handscomb’s last opportunity to shine against international-level crickets came in last 2022, when he played in a Cricket Australia XI match against South Africa before the Test series, making 9 in the first dig and retiring out on 48 in the second.
The 31-year-old recorded 29 innings across 16 Tests between 2016 and 2019, notching two centuries and further four fifties.
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