South Africa vs Australia 2016: Analysing the performance of Australia's debutants

#2 Peter Handscomb

Handscomb scored a 50 on debut

Handscomb had scored the most Sheffield Shield runs since last summer, notching up four hundreds and making 1147 runs at an average of 52.13. He may well have been picked for the third Test given his record in day-night games. He is the highest run-getter in such games in the Sheffield Shield, with a total of 480 runs at an average of 60.0, with two hundreds.

Handscomb has promised much in whatever opportunity he has got in the Australia A side. Recently, he made a first-class 137 against a touring South Africa A side before scoring an 87 against India A. He is known to be a good player of spin, and uses his feet to get to the pitch of the ball. He made a double hundred in the build up to the Adelaide Test and carried on his form in the Test.

Performance

Handscomb walked in to bat at 174/3 in the first innings and gave Smith company by playing Shamsi with authority and tackling the pacers ably. His first ball was a peach from Philander that beat the outside edge and in his second ball, he almost played it back to the bowler.

But since then, there was no stopping Handscomb as he showed his class by punching down the ground and cover driving with assurance. He hit three consecutive fours off Philander to reach his half-century, but was eventually cleaned up by Abbott for 54.

He hit the winning runs in the second innings but got to bat only after Australia were almost done with the chase. Given his composure and assuredness, Handscomb is sure to get a longer run in the Test line-up. He also took a wonderful catch to dismiss Faf du Plessis off Starc in the second innings.