From tennis court to cricket ground

Handscomb loves to play team game

Peter Handscomb’s journey to the cricket was not straight forward. He was at least a state level junior star at soccer, tennis and cricket. Back problems forced him out of soccer at the age of 14.

Tennis lasted another year or two. He could have easily become a tennis player like his near contemporary Bernard Tomic. But Handscomb wasn’t entirely convinced that his career in tennis could fetch him any good result.

So he pursued his career in cricket and it paid a rich dividend for him with Handscomb cementing his place as one of the most influential cricketers in Australia.

“I used to play a bit of tennis, but not as good as how Bernard Tomic plays. It was great fun playing tennis growing up. The decision was made pretty much itself. I couldn’t win tennis games anymore but I could make a few runs with the bat. I still love my tennis and try to get to the Australian Open whenever I can. I am naturally mate with Roger Federer, he is pretty good,” said Handscomb.

"I played in a tournament Bernard Tomic played in," Handscomb said. "He was two years younger than me, and dominated it. I got to the round of 16 maybe. I was a serve-volleyer. I could win a couple of games on grass courts, but that was it. I didn't want to put the time and effort into an individual sport. I enjoyed the team game more."

And it was a good decision for the right hand batsman, hailed from Melbourne.

His inclusion for the Adelaide Test against South Africa followed a career-best 215 in the Sheffield Shield, and the previous summer he had been the competition's third-leading run scorer. Handscomb showed the glimpse of his talent at Test level by hitting 54 on debut against South Africa in Adelaide, also striking the winning runs, and a maiden century came in his next Test against Pakistan at the Gabba.

By the end of his first home summer of Test cricket, Handscomb was in the remarkable position of having not been dismissed below 50 in any of his first seven innings of Test cricket - the first player in Test history to have achieved that feat.

But probably Handscomb’s life changing innings came against India in the third Test earlier this year. He made an unbeaten 72 in the rage turner in Ranchi in the fourth innings of the match to help Australia draw the Test from a dire strait.

“Obviously for me it was quite an important innings but also for the team. I think the whole team has been able to take a lot from that as well as what Shaun Marsh did. Playing as a left-hander, the ball spinning out of the rough and Jadeja and Ashwin bowling really well. I think we will be going with a pretty similar mindset to how we played in India. Hopefully that’s a good start for us,” Handscomb recalled.

He however knew well Bangladesh will pose the same threat with spin what they tasted in India.

“Obviously we know as a whole that the Bangladesh side in their own conditions are going to be a very strong team. We have a team meeting this week where we go through the entire squad that Bangladesh has put forward and we will be trying to formulate a few plans there and see how we go.”

From tennis court to cricket ground

Handscomb loves to play team game

Peter Handscombs journey to the cricket was not straight forward. He was at least a state level junior star at soccer, tennis and cricket. Back problems forced him out of soccer at the age of 14. Tennis lasted another year or two. He could have easily become a tennis player like his near contemporary Bernard Tomic. But Handscomb wasnt entirely convinced that his career in tennis could fetch him any good result. So he pursued his career in cricket and it paid a rich dividend for him with Handscomb cementing his place as one of the most influential cricketers in Australia. I used to play a bit of tennis, but not as good as how Bernard Tomic plays. It was great fun playing tennis growing up. The decision was made pretty much itself. I couldnt win tennis games anymore but I could make a few runs with the bat. I still love my tennis and try to get to the Australian Open whenever I can. I am naturally mate with Roger Federer, he is pretty good, said Handscomb. I played in a tournament Bernard Tomic played in, Handscomb said. He was two years younger than me, and dominated it. I got to the round of 16 maybe. I was a serve-volleyer. I could win a couple of games on grass courts, but that was it. I didnt want to put the time and effort into an individual sport. I enjoyed the team game more. And it was a good decision for the right hand batsman, hailed from Melbourne. His inclusion for the Adelaide Test against South Africa followed a career-best 215 in the Sheffield Shield, and the previous summer he had been the competitions third-leading run scorer. Handscomb showed the glimpse of his talent at Test level by hitting 54 on debut against South Africa in Adelaide, also striking the winning runs, and a maiden century came in his next Test against Pakistan at the Gabba. By the end of his first home summer of Test cricket, Handscomb was in the remarkable position of having not been dismissed below 50 in any of his first seven innings of Test cricket - the first player in Test history to have achieved that feat. But probably Handscombs life changing innings came against India in the third Test earlier this year. He made an unbeaten 72 in the rage turner in Ranchi in the fourth innings of the match to help Australia draw the Test from a dire strait. Obviously for me it was quite an important innings but also for the team. I think the whole team has been able to take a lot from that as well as what Shaun Marsh did. Playing as a left-hander, the ball spinning out of the rough and Jadeja and Ashwin bowling really well. I think we will be going with a pretty similar mindset to how we played in India. Hopefully thats a good start for us, Handscomb recalled. He however knew well Bangladesh will pose the same threat with spin what they tasted in India. Obviously we know as a whole that the Bangladesh side in their own conditions are going to be a very strong team. We have a team meeting this week where we go through the entire squad that Bangladesh has put forward and we will be trying to formulate a few plans there and see how we go.