Peter Handscomb has reinforced his claims for a place on Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka, hitting 112 for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield final against South Australia.
The 24-year-old brought up his third century of the Shield summer at Glenelg's Gliderol Stadium, helping the visitors to a first innings lead.
It was also without a doubt his most important, after hundreds against Queensland in the opening round and the Redbacks in February helped contribute to his career-best season record of 723 runs at 40.16.
While Australia are unlikely to change their high-scoring top order for the July and August tour of Sri Lanka, Handscomb could be considered if selectors do away with the allrounder option of Mitchell Marsh at No.6.
Importantly, the noted gloveman could also provide back up 30-year-old wicketkeeper Peter Nevill in the touring party.
Marsh has averaged just 23 in his 23 Test innings and is yet to hit a century.
And on Australian first class cricket's biggest stage, Handscomb showed he had what it takes to deliver.
He cut the ball exquisitely, capitalising on anything that was even slightly short outside off-stump and sending it to the boundary.
He was also unstoppable on the drive, with 12 of his 18 boundaries either coming through point or down the ground.
He exhibited great control throughout the 201-ball knock, accelerating the innings on Sunday afternoon against the old ball, going to stumps at 79 not out from 147 balls, before being far more circumspect against the second new ball on Monday morning.
Share
