Handscomb sends reminder of his class with superb century

Victoria veteran Peter Handscomb sent Australia's selectors a reminder of his class with a superb unbeaten century to put the home side in a commanding position against Western Australia on one of the flattest day one Sheffield Shield pitches the MCG has produced in many years.

Handscomb kept his name front and centre for a recall on the Test tour of India in January with a near flawless 131 not out against Australia A spinner Corey Rocchiccioli and former Test spinner Ashton Agar as Victoria piled up 292 for 3 on day one.

It was a timely return to form for Handscomb who had endured a frustrating start to the summer including a luckless tour on India with Australia A in September and a series of spurned starts across the first three Shield games on return. Blake Macdonald also compiled an unbeaten 74 on his return to the side while Ashley Chandrasinghe made an excellent 53 after being a late inclusion for the Campbell Kellaway who had to withdraw with back spasms on match eve.

Handscomb entered with his side wobbling a fraction at 44 for 2 after winning the toss and batting on a rare straw-coloured surface at the MCG that featured very little live grass. Curator Matt Page, producing his first Shield pitch at the venue since the two-day Ashes Test on Boxing Day last year, stripped most of the grass out for the first game of the summer after the Melbourne Cricket Club had installed ball tracking cameras to measure bounce, seam, spin numbers ahead of the 2026 Boxing Day Test and the 150th Anniversary Test next March in a bid to avoid another two-day calamity.

The result was that Handscomb could cash on a true surface that offered consistent bounce and not a lot of spin. There was some sideways movement and good carry in the morning session with the new ball. Marcus Harris nicked four times in his 20-ball innings of 15. Two did not go to hand, he was dropped at first slip before finally being held by keeper Joel Curtis. That came after Sam Harper fell to a stunning catch from Albert Esterhuysen at wide fine leg off Kieran Elliott.

Handscomb and Chandrasinghe had to work hard before lunch with a slow outfield halting their progress at times. But Handscomb looked a cut above producing a sumptious straight drive early in his innings. WA went to a short-ball tactic after the break from Liam Haskett and Elliott and Handscomb negotiated it with ease, thumping Elliott through midwicket.

When spin was introduced he showcased why he remains one of Australia's premier players of slow bowling. He advanced at Rocchiccioli twice to loft with the spin and against it. In between times he used the depth of the crease to play off the back foot through the off side and also unfurled some well controlled sweeps.

Chandrasinghe had to work harder for his runs but played nicely for his 53 in a 112-run stand with Handscomb. But a rush of blood to push the scoring led to his downfall as he skied a slog sweep off Rocchiccioli against the turn to mid-on.

Macdonald followed Handscomb's template with excellent footwork and placement against the spin. WA got a sense of deja vu after Macdonald had made 79 and 109 not out against them last year at the MCG. He cruised to a half-century but did have one piece of luck. Agar got one to turn a touch more than expected and the thick edge clipped the ends of Curtis' gloves.

Handscomb and Macdonald made it back-to-back century stands but they were challenged when WA took the second new ball late in the day. Macdonald edged one over the slips while Handscomb was beaten three times by Elliott, including one that nipped sharply past the inside edge and over off stump, to prove there was life in the surface when the ball was hard and new.