There has never been a better time to elevate Victorian batsman Peter Handscomb to the Australian Test side, Bushrangers teammate Aaron Finch says.
The Australia ODI opener spoke to reporters on Thursday morning, with Handscomb later posting an unbeaten century on the first day of Victoria's clash with NSW to further enhance his Test credentials.
With Australia looking for answers to their batting woes, Finch believes Handscomb is ready to answer the call to make his Test debut against South Africa.
At 25, he meets the need for generational change but, more important, has the Sheffield Shield numbers to back up Finch's assertion.
Handscomb, who also has two half-centuries this season, averaged 43.55 for the 2015-16 Shield season, and was the third-highest scorer with three centuries.
"Peter Handscomb is ready to go," Finch said on Thursday.
"He's someone who's got a nice technique. He's someone who makes runs under pressure ... he's made a hundred in a Shield final.
"Any time that Victoria has got their back against the wall, Peter is a guy who stands up.
"I think there would be no better time to pick Pete. He's a fantastic player and he will be a fantastic player for Australia for a long time."
Finch also backed a more mature Glenn Maxwell to add to his three Test caps despite a two-year absence from the Test team.
"Maxy brings great attributes to all teams he plays for, no matter what the format," Finch said.
"He's obviously an amazingly skilled player and I think he's finally starting to get his head around reining that (flair) in.
"Just identifying moments in games when he can express himself and times when he probably needs top play a bit more traditionally."
Finch, 30, hasn't given up on his own Test ambitions, but he's out of the Bushrangers line-up following the opening clash with Tasmania.
"There are a couple of technique basics that I've got to get back to," he said.
"It's something that I went away from slightly, having played so much shorter-format cricket."
Finch will captain a Victorian XI side in a limited-overs day-night tour match against South Africa at the MCG on Saturday.
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