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Struggling Hanscomb 'a lamb to the slaughter'

Australian Associated Press

Aussie Test great Shane Warne says Peter Handscomb is like a “lamb to the slaughter” after failures against India left many questioning his place in Australia’s side.

Handscomb is again staring at the prospect of an early-summer axing after familiar troubles re-emerged during the second Test in Perth.

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Warne delivered his savage verdict on Handscomb after he was trapped lbw by Ishant Sharma for 13 on day three.

Australia’s No.5 has long faced questions over his front-foot issues and his poor dismissal after tea on Sunday – pinned deep in his crease by a full-pitched Ishant delivery – will only invite further scrutiny of his unorthodox technique.

Dropped after two Tests during last summer’s Ashes series, when he was targeted by England pacemen Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, Handscomb sought out former opener Chris Rogers to help him make minor adjustments.

But scores of 34, 14, seven and 13 are certain to leave him vulnerable with Mitch Marsh’s pace bowling set to bring him into calculations for the Boxing Day Test.

Warne doesn’t think Handscomb should be in Australia’s Test side. Pic: Getty
Warne doesn’t think Handscomb should be in Australia’s Test side. Pic: Getty

“I would love to be positive about Handscomb. But enough now, it’s not fair on Peter to keep picking him – it’s a lamb to the slaughter,” Warne posted on Twitter.

“I’ve said it so many times now, but you cannot play international cricket with a technique like that.”

Handscomb averaged 63 in his first seven Tests, a period in which he compiled five scores higher than 50.

In eight Tests since, he has averaged just 23 and only surpassed 50 once.

Former Test batsman Simon Katich said the prospect of again failing to make it through the summer would be weighing heavily on Handscomb.

“It’s no doubt playing on his mind,” Katich said on SEN radio.

“He knows he has to prove he’s changed his game. That would be weighing on his mind given he’s been dropped previously.

“It’s never an easy position to be in.”