Snubbed from the Aussie Test side to tour Sri Lanka, Peter Handscomb has revealed he was pretty confident selectors would find a space for him.
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Despite his “high” confidence levels, Handscomb was left out of an Australian squad that will head to Sri Lanka in the coming days.
The 33-year-old is considered one the country’s best batsmen against spin bowling, and many, including Handscomb himself, believed he’d be an asset on the turning Sri Lankan pitches.
However, the Victorian wasn’t named in the 16-man squad, with selectors opting to recall Nathan McSweeney instead.
Handscomb is on standby for the Sri Lanka tour should injury intervene according to head selector George Bailey, but its hard not to feel sorry for the veteran middle order batsman, who recorded the most 50+ scores at first-class level in 2024.
“Confidence was pretty high,” Handscomb told Code Sports.
“The few conversations that we’d had leading into it was all very much like, ‘what would you need to prep yourself if you are selected, if selection does go your way, then what do you need to be best, best prepared?’ So it always feels good when they’re asking you what you want to get ready.
“It still sucks anytime you don’t get picked or anytime you get dropped.”
Handscomb also revealed what Bailey had told him regarding his non-selection.
Many believed that because Australia had already locked in a place in the World Test Championship final, the squad for the Sri Lanka tour would promote a look to the future.
However Handscomb said that wasn’t the case, with Bailey telling the exact same thing he told the media – that the best squad possible was selected.
“That’s exactly how it was conveyed to me as well, that this wasn’t a development squad, Handscomb said candidly.
“They’re not going over there to give guys a go. And that’s something that George has always told me, since he’s been in charge.
“Test cricket, especially (with) the Test Championship, is now very, even more so important. And every Test is important, even though they have qualified for the final.
“So this isn’t just a tour that you go over willy nilly and play whoever. It’s still very much they’re trying to win, and they’re trying to win both Tests.”
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Despite the latest setback, Handscomb is still hopeful he’ll get another crack in the Test arena again.
“I’m still looking at every Test tour, whatever that is. And the only thing I can do is keep making runs, whether that’s here in Australia, or when I go over and play the county season,” he said.
“As long as I can keep putting scores on the board, then I’m putting my best foot forward for every, every Test series, not just the subcontinent ones.”
Australia’s first Test against Sri Lanka gets underway on January 29 in Galle.
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