Peter Handscomb has emerged as the pick of the Australian debutants in Adelaide, announcing himself on the Test scene with a half-century alongside an indefatigable Usman Khawaja on Friday.
On a recuperative day for the Australian team led by the disciplined Khawaja's superb hundred, the Victorian introduced himself to a much-maligned middle order and indicated he could be a batsman who could remain there for some time.
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Khawaja leads as Aussies take control
A patient century from Usman Khawaja ensured Australia will go into day three of the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide with a 48-run lead.
While another of the first-gamers, Nic Maddinson, never looked comfortable in his brief stay under lights on day two and was yorked by Kagiso Rabada without scoring, Handscomb joined opener Matt Renshaw in making eye-catching debuts. Renshaw only made 10 before being dismissed via a contentious low catch by Dean Elgar at third slip, but left an impression with the way he had been able to resist the new ball the previous night, helping clear the way for Khawaja to steer Australia to the lead in the third Test.
Handscomb's 54 from 78 balls was a feature of the second afternoon and twilight period in Adelaide. Combining in a 99-run partnership with Khawaja he put the Australians in front with the boundary that registered his 50 after the dinner break. His mother Pat, standing in front of the Australian team room, was in tears as he registered the milestone. Handscomb's father died last year but would have been very proud.
Asked about his mother's reaction, Handscomb said: "I didn't actually know that. I haven't been able to speak to her yet, so I'm looking forward to getting back to the hotel and going to see how she's going."
Residing deep in his crease and showcasing an unorthodox technique that makes Steve Smith's appear as if it's straight out of the textbook, the 25-year-old demonstrated why Australian selectors have had their eyes on him even before his call-up amid mass changes to the team.
While there was much talk about his method, from the high backlift to his grip, what was important was that Handscomb proved that it was one that he is in command of. His steady temperament, too, also looks tailor-made for Test cricket.
It was a nervous start, playing and missing to a top-shelf Vernon Philander delivery that swung late on his first ball in Test cricket, and almost hitting the second one straight back to the South African seamer.
"I was just happy to survive those first two balls to be fair," Handscomb said. "Once we got past that it was actually OK."
When he settled alongside Khawaja, the pair cashed in with the old ball, also reinforcing his suitability for February's tour of India with his footwork again to the spin of debutant Chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi, the handy JP Duminy and the very much part-time Elgar.
The Victorian had made his way to 35 when the new ball finally arrived in the hands of Philander and Kyle Abbott and while the Proteas' opening quicks gained a new lease of life with the fresh pink pill, Handscomb put the foot down. He raced to 50 with three consecutive boundaries off Philander as the natural light began to disappear, the first two driven through the covers and between cover and point and the third bashed through midwicket.
"I definitely did not mean to hit that pull shot," he said on Friday night. "But luckily enough it came out of the middle and went into the gap, so that was a nice feeling."
Two overs later, though, he was gone, with Abbott locating a way between his bat and pad to his off stump.
He received a very warm reception on his way off the ground. On Friday's evidence, this is a young batsman we're going to be seeing a whole lot more of.
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