Fox In Focus | Peter Handscomb

When Peter Handscomb jetted in for a fleeting six-round stay at the beginning of the County Championship last summer, few would’ve expected him to be preparing to lead Leicestershire’s charge for a fourth T20 trophy 14 months later.

Now firmly established as a fixture of the Foxes’ side in all three formats, the Australian international is next under the microscope in our In Focus series.

PLAY STYLE:

An unflinching Aussie, calmness is certainly the watchword to best describe Handscomb’s approach in the middle. It’s a complete juxtaposition to the breakneck nature of T20 cricket “ when chaos ensues around him, Handscomb remains ice cool.

The 33-year-old’s ability to carefully read a match’s situation is one of his finest skills - tailoring his approach to a carefully calculated projection of developments to come.

That’s not to say he doesn’t embrace the fast-paced, big-hitting demands of the shortest form. When the time comes, Handscomb is more than capable of freeing his arms and arrowing the ball into the stands.

STATS BOOK:

Only Ben Cox boasts more T20 career appearances than Handscomb’s 122. A vastly experienced campaigner, he’s racked up 1,880 runs at an average of 22.65 - striking at a touch under 120.

The majority of those runs (837) have arisen while representing Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, where he also recorded his career best score of 103 not out.

No stranger to English domestic T20 cricket, Handscomb previously played for Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, and Durham before his arrival in Leicestershire “ where he registered 128 runs at 25.6 from five innings last term. He’s also featured twice in T20Is for Australia “ averaging 33.

HERO HIGHLIGHT:

Handscomb’s aforementioned finest hour was made in January 2015, as he scored his maiden T20 ton - 103 not out from 64 balls - to single-handedly steer Melbourne Stars to victory over champions elect, Perth Scorchers.

Batting at four, the Stars required 180 for victory at the MCG. With Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen falling in successive balls during the second over, Handscomb arrived at the crease 8/2 and with his side in considerable peril.

But a typically composed innings saw him navigate his way to 50 from 45 deliveries, before exploding to three figures just 19 balls later.

Charging expert death bowler AJ Tye to convert a yorker into a full toss, Handscomb hit a monstrous six into the stands to simultaneously bring up his maiden T20 century and win the game by three wickets.

KEY CLASH:

After a testing seven-game spell for Yorkshire in 2017, some may argue Handscomb has a point to prove when he leads the Foxes out against the Vikings on Friday.

His Leicestershire bow last summer also came against the White Rose county, with Handscomb hitting a debut hundred. If he can mirror that kind of instant impact with the white ball on Friday, the Foxes will be perfectly set for an opening round victory.

Now 14 months into his time as a Fox, Leicestershire are in capable hands with Handscomb at the helm. His unflustered state of calm at the crease may be a complete contrast from the raucous support in the stands, but both will be equally as crucial to pushing the Foxes to victory.

See Pete lead Leicestershire and help us get off to a winning start against Yorkshire Vikings on 31 May HERE.