Hodge heartbroken over Handscomb axing

Melbourne Renegades veteran Brad Hodge says the axing of Peter Handscomb for the third Magellan Ashes Test is "heartbreaking" and expects the recalled Mitchell Marsh to play for the remainder of the series.

On match eve, captain Steve Smith insisted the WACA Ground pitch would determine whether Australia would need to select an allrounder to help share the bowling workload or remain unchanged for a third straight Test.

As it turned out, Marsh was recalled after spending nine months on the sidelines with Handscomb the "unlucky" player to miss out.

While Smith said the decision would have nothing to do with Handscomb’s batting, doubts about the Victorian’s unusual technique surfaced after he struggled to counter England’s swing bowling attack led by James Anderson.

The right-hander has scored 62 runs in three innings in the Ashes and looked far from his stylish, free-flowing best.

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Hodge says Handscomb should have played in Perth and that while his batting approach may appear unorthodox it’s the same one that’s seen him post two centuries and average 47.34 after a dozen Tests. 

"It's heartbreaking, it really is," Hodge told cricket.com.au.

"One of the things he'll look at is 'Well, I'm averaging 47 in Test match cricket – how's that bad?'

"I don't think Australia's bowling issue is a problem. I think people outside have just made a judgement call looking at his technique, thinking, well at the moment I don't think he's going to get a run.

"In my opinion he should have got another Test. His technique is the same as it was six months ago – it's just that he's getting out.

"But for my mind if you're averaging 47 at No.5, that's pretty good.

"So these are the heartaches that sport brings. I'm glad I'm past that, where I don't have to deal with the mental angst that you go through."

Handscomb will stay with the Test team for the duration of the match instead of returning home to link up with his KFC Big Bash League club Melbourne Stars.

Hodge hopes the 26-year-old hasn’t been dropped under false pretences.

"If he can receive some good, honest feedback instead of horses for courses rubbish (that would be good)," he said.

"If people don't think he's going to make a run, well just tell him.

"Say, 'Mate, at the moment we don't see you making a run'. That's OK, you can deal with that.

"What you can't deal with is getting told they're picking an extra bowler, then you watch the Test match and Mitch doesn't bowl that much – they're the things that haunt you as a cricket player."

Marsh bowled two overs before tea on day one as Smith rotated his stable of quicks on the fast and bouncy WACA pitch.

Now that the Western Australian has returned to the starting XI, Hodge can see the allrounder playing in the remaining two Ashes Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

"They're going to have to stick with (Marsh) now for a period of time," Hodge said.

"If you come in for one Test, there's no point coming out for the next.

"Mitch probably has to play the rest of the summer now, which is no good for Pete.

"I'm sure there's some pretty clear messages coming back to (Handscomb) – go back and score more runs, the standard clichés. 

"But you probably want a bit more in-depth than that, so I hope that's the case."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21