Handscomb hopes to replicate Big Bash form to help Glos T20 Blast campaign
13 May 2015
Having scored a century in this year’s Big Bash League, Peter Handscomb says he is looking forward to trying replicate that form for Gloucestershire in the NatWest T20 Blast.
He is set to make his debut in the competition on Friday night when Middlesex visit the Bristol County Ground.
And the Melbourne Stars and Australia A player says he is looking forward to it.
He said: “I can’t wait to play my first NatWest T20 Blast match on Friday. It will be nice to open up a bit more, show a bit more flair in my batting and hopefully get Gloucestershire off to a good start. The boys have told me it is a great atmosphere at the County Ground on a Friday night and I hope we will have a big crowd behind us.”
The 24-year-old, enjoyed a stellar season in all forms of the game in Australia before joining Gloucestershire.
He has registered half centuries in his last two LV County Championship matches and says he is coming to terms with English conditions.
He said: “The conditions are different to back home and it has been tough to get used to them and adapt my own game
“In Australia the pitches are obviously a bit quicker and bouncier and it is a bit more about the reversing ball. Over here there is conventional swing for longer and the ball seams a bit more and you have to try and play a bit later and straighter.
“I was pleased to get my first half century against Essex and hopefully I can push on and start scoring more consistently.”
Along with Glos team mate Michael Klinger, Peter was the only player to score a Big Bash League hundred in the most recent competition. And he says he will put the experience to good use to help his new side in their 2015 Blast campaign.
He said: “Playing in the Big Bash League was amazing and I think the experience of playing in front of big crowds and not being intimidated by the situation is one of the main things you learn.
The other things is that you can come back from any position. The game can change in a couple of overs and if you win those key moments you can get right back into the match. It was great to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best and hopefully I can take something of that experience into the matches with Gloucestershire and help them out a bit.”
Friday night’s visitors have two players Peter knows well in fellow countrymen Adam Voges and Joe Burns and Peter has highlighted the pair as two key players they will have to combat if they are to start with a win.
