The heat will be on Peter Handscomb this summer.
But it'll be nothing compared to the oppressive humidity of Bangladesh that left Handscomb dizzy, dry retching and severely dehydrated during last month's stoic Test innings.
Handscomb dropped 4.5 kilograms, scored 82, earned the praise of Dean Jones and most importantly put Australia on track for a series-levelling victory in Chittagong.
Handscomb, who debuted following the horrors of Hobart last year, says the extreme experience is something to draw on during his first Ashes series.
"Definitely. More mentally than anything else, can always look back on that now and say I've done that," he told reporters.
"If I can survive in heat like that, I can survive in heat at the Gabba or the WACA.
"I don't think I had anything left in the body to throw up. I was trying to take in liquid but the more I took in the sicker I felt.
"It was just a really weird feeling ... it almost makes you focus more on the ball, because you didn't want the weather to be the one that got you out."
Handscomb was already feeling unwell when he started his gutsy innings, having donned a helmet to field at short leg during the day.
The 26-year-old's knock was compared to Jones' efforts during the 1986 tied Test in Chennai, where he lost control of his bodily functions.
"Deano messaged me that night," Handscomb revealed.
"He said 'mate, geez, it looked hot over there but not as hot as Madras'."
The innings was one of many formative moments during an eventful start to Handscomb's international career.
The Victorian has also scored two tons, incensed Virat Kohli in the infamous Bangalore DRS bust-up, helped salvage a draw in Ranchi, and become entwined in the national wicketkeeping debate.
Nothing is likely to compare to this summer's five-Test series against England that starts on November 23.
"It's hard to say it's just another Test series, being an Ashes. This is essentially the pinnacle of Test cricket," Handscomb said.
"There's almost that little bit extra on each ball, each run, each wicket."
Share
