Few in Australia's likely Ashes XI can say they've had a bigger 12 months than rising star Peter Handscomb.
In a year in which Australian skipper Steve Smith went two months without picking up a bat, amid a bitter pay dispute between players and administrators, Handscomb barely paused for breath.
The 26-year-old made a dream start last summer to his international career, scoring 399 runs from his first four Tests.
A lengthy tour of India came next, followed by a four-month stint playing county cricket for Yorkshire.
Then it was time to return to the subcontinent, where Handscomb lost 4.5kg in oppressive heat and humidity during a gritty knock in Australia's series-levelling win against Bangladesh in Chittagong.
Days after returning to Melbourne for some much-needed rest, Handscomb was back on a plane to India after being called up to replace the injured Aaron Finch in Australia's one-day squad.
With the biggest year of his professional career already under his belt, Handscomb will gear up for a huge summer by captaining Victoria against Queensland in the first round of the Sheffield Shield.
"I think the more cricket that we've been able to play, the better. And hopefully, it puts me in good stead for a big summer," Handscomb said on Tuesday.
"It always puts you in good stead coming back to Australia after playing in England or India or Bangladesh.
"We've set ourselves up here (with) a technique that works well on fast, bouncy wickets which is what we have, so to come home is quite a nice feeling."
Handscomb is no stranger to antagonism on the field, having raised the ire of Indian captain Virat Kohli during their often-spiteful Test series.
But he played down vice-captain David Warner's call for the Australians to find their inner "hatred" of England over the summer.
"I've played with a few of the (English) guys now, and I actually know they're good blokes," Handscomb said.
"Out on the field, we'll be giving it to each other but that's as far as it goes. Off the field, we'll be perfectly fine."
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