India vs Australia 2019: Ready To Keep Wickets If I Feel Fit Enough - Peter Handscomb

In one of those strategies, Australia tried Peter Handscomb replacing Alex Carey in the T20I side. All of a sudden, the move might help the team in a great way, as it would leave a good opportunity for them to add an extra all-rounder to the side. Meanwhile, Peter Handscomb is open to keep the wickets in the ODI format of the game as well.

It might have been a surprise selection ahead of Alex Carey to keep wickets for Australia in the first T20I against India at Visakhapatnam, but the 27-year old Peter Handscomb is willing to don the gloves in ODIs too and is willing to work on getting fitter for the same.

I need to make sure I am fit enough – Peter Handscomb

The flamboyant cricketer has quoted that he is willing to do the wicketkeeper role for the team in ODI format as well. However, he wants to make sure that he can cope up with the fitness levels that brings to the table. Wicketkeeping for 50 overs and then batting for the team would be a really difficult task.

Further, he went on to add saying that he will look after his own performance like running between the wickets with the same energy before taking the final call on doing wicketkeeping role in ODI games. Handscomb highlighted the fact that India’s temperature is pretty tough to tackle.

“I can keep and all that, I just need to make sure I’m fit enough and strong enough,” he said. “That if we keep first in a 50-over game, I can still go out there and bat at four or five and make sure I’m still running hard between the wickets. In India with a bit of heat and up to the stumps a lot more on spinning wickets, it can be tough, but it’s something I am looking forward to having a crack at.”

Brad Haddin is great – Peter Handscomb

Brad Haddin, who helped Handscomb take his glovework to another level in 2017, is on deck during Australia’s current tour of India as fielding coach. He has been working closely with the Victorian in recent days.

“Hadds is great. We actually did a bit of work together a couple of years ago that put me on the right path with my keeping. We just found a little routine that I can do at training or before a game that just gets me going, gets me ready to keep. Whether I’ve been training a lot or I haven’t been.”

Well, it would be interesting to see whether they would go with the option of Peter Handscomb to keep the wickets. If that goes well, Australia can find a great balance in the side ahead of ICC World Cup 2019.