It is unpredictable turn in India, can really spin quite aggressively: Peter Handscomb

Australian middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb who has recently made his national debut feels the best way to deal with the spin threat of India is to trust one’s defence. He believes that one with a good defence against the unpredictable turn will come out on top. “It is unpredictable turn (in India) … it can really spin quite aggressively. So just have to trust our defence,” Handscomb was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. He is currently training with the national team at the ICC Academy in Dubai ahead of the tough 4 match series.

“Some of the best batsmen in the world doesn’t know how to do it, I have a few game plans in my head and hopefully that works for me. I guess I learnt to back my game plan and skills, try not to worry much about what the balls would be doing in that wicket and still be confident coming down the track and also play on the back foot and use the sweep as well,” he added.

Handscomb who will be leaving for Mumbai along with other team members said that he will try to access the conditions as quickly as possible. “I haven’t played Test cricket in India before, only a little bit of IPL. The wickets will be different, so we will have to assess the conditions as quickly as possible after going down there,” he said.

When asked if they have analysed the batting or bowling of any of the Indian players Handscomb said, “We still have got a couple of weeks for the first Test. I will be looking to use my foot, being positive, going back and forth to spinners and forming the game plan and sticking to that and hopefully scoring some runs.”

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Handscomb has already amassed 399 runs in 4 Tests with two centuries and a staggering average of 99.75. While Handscomb is yet to play for the senior team in India, he had travelled with the Australian A team in 2015 where he made 91 in the first of the two matches he played.

“I learnt more to back my own game plan, back my skills, try not to be too worried about what the ball is doing off the wicket and still be confident coming down the track but also playing off back the foot and if I need to sweep, try and sweep as well,” Handscomb said. Australia start of their campaign in India will a two-day intra-squad match on Friday ahead of the three-day warm-up clash against India A in Mumbai.