Brad Hodge, Virat Kohli, Australia vs India 2018
Brad Hodge (Photo Credit: CA/BBL)

Former Australian batsman Brad Hodge was enraged following the exclusion of Peter Handscomb after all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was picked for the third ongoing Test of the Magellan Ashes 2017-18 series in Perth.

“I don’t think Australia’s bowling issue is a problem. I think people outside have just made a judgement call looking at his [Peter Handscomb] technique, thinking, well at the moment I don’t think he’s going to get a run,” Hodge was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.

The 42-year-old Hodge, who was appointed as the chief coach of Indian Premier League franchise Kings XI Punjab, further remarked the young batsman should have been given another go after the hosts were leading the series 2-0 in the five-match ODI series.

“In my opinion, he should have got another Test,” Hodge maintained.

Peter Handscomb, Brad Hodge, Australia Vs England, Perth Test, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith
Across three innings of the ongoing Ashes series, Peter Handscomb just managed to post 62 runs. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

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The Victoria-based former Kangaroos top-order batsman was heartbroken when the Australian playing XI was revealed ahead of the WACA Test on December 13 (Wednesday).

“It’s heartbreaking, it really is. One of the things he’ll look at is ‘Well, I’m averaging 47 in Test match cricket – how’s that bad?’,” Hodge asked.

Hodge, who represented Australia in just six Tests scored 503 runs at an average of 55.88, believes the 26-year-old Melbourne-born batsman Handscomb is batting akin owing to his technique which he possessed early this year.

“His technique is the same as it was six months ago – it’s just that he’s getting out,” Hodge asserted.

Peter Handscomb, Brad Hodge, Australia Vs England, Perth Test, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith
Brad Hodge believes they should have shown trust in Peter Handscomb. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

In the recent past, Handscomb has donned gloves for Australia which further saw Hodge was heartbroken when the former was asked to sit down for a Test fixture which could decide the series if the hosts would register be able to register a win.

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The bowling all-rounder Marsh, who made his return to Australian national team after nine-long months after major shoulder surgery, was picked in a bid to support and share the workload of the bowling department which is led by speedster Mitchell Starc.

Moreover, Hodge, who is representing the Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Renegades, feels Marsh could play the remainder of the traditional Test series.

“They’re going to have to stick with (Marsh) now for a period of time. If you come in for one Test, there’s no point coming out for the next,” Hodge further added.

Before the stumps of day one in Perth, Marsh sent down seven overs which saw him conceding 25 runs, as visiting England led by Joe Root opted to bat after winning the toss.

England posted 304 for four in 90 over while riding on the magnificent century of Dawid Malan (110* off 174).

However, a day before the ongoing Test match Smith revealed the team would be announced after having the first look at the surface after unchanged fielding team for the Gabba and Adelaide Test.

Peter Handscomb, Brad Hodge, Australia Vs England, Perth Test, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith
Brad Hodge feels Peter Handscomb has to work hard to make himself count into the traditional format. Photo Credit: CA/BBL.

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Handscomb, who didn’t have a good Ashes series which further saw him being criticized for his technique, but New South Wales-based Smith quashed the claims by saying there was nothing wrong with the way Handscomb was batting.

“But for my mind, if you’re averaging 47 at No.5, that’s pretty good,” Hodge stated.

The promising prospect Handscomb scored 14 in Brisbane followed by 36 and 12 in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, as he further struggled against the swing on the home soil.

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In 12 Tests so far, Handscomb scored 805 runs in which he smashed two-hundred and four fifties. He scored at the average of 47.35 since making his international debut in November, 2016 against South Africa in Adelaide.

Tahir Ibn Manzoor is the Editor-In-Chief at Cricket Addictor, who follows cricket like food and he has a great affection for the long-form journalism. He has been associated with the organisation since...