Handscomb voted by peers to lead Test stars

Victorian Captain, Peter Handscomb, has been voted by his peers to lead Australian stars David Warner, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins in the ACA All*Star 2021 Marsh Cup Team of the Year.

Handscomb, with 299 runs in his 4 matches at 74.75, is the sole Victorian selected in the side having led a young side throughout the tournament that debuted multiple players with regulars such as last year’s skipper, Aaron Finch, and Glenn Maxwell away for international duty.

Eight of the eleven remaining players are drawn from the year’s two finalists, New South Wales and Western Australia, with four of the top six batters winning their spot in the side having made a century during the shortened five-match tournament.

David Warner (199 runs at 66) and Sam Whiteman (220 runs at 44) are at the top of the order, followed by Handscomb and South Australian Captain Travis Head (276 runs at 55) who make up the top four. Steve Smith, who wasn’t dismissed in his two innings during the tournament for 213 runs, comes in at five.

Reigning Domestic Player of the Year, Shaun Marsh, was dismissed just once this season, averaging 83.5 having made a century and a half-century in his two matches and rounds out a talent-laden top six.

Josh Inglis’ consistency with the willow saw him recognised by his peers as the side’s wicketkeeper. Inglis made two half-centuries in five matches and averaged over 40 for 209 runs.

Captaincy came naturally to NSW fast bowler, Pat Cummins, who led his Blues to the top of the table in the preliminary rounds and took eight wickets in four matches in the process. He spearheads the bowling attack featuring two left-arm quicks in Ben Dwarshuis (4 matches, 8 wickets and West Australian, Joel Paris (3 wickets, 10 matches).

Emerging Queensland leg spinner, Matt Kuhnemann (4 matches, 10 wickets) adds further variety to the bowling attack with Tasmania’s lead quick, Jackson Bird (5 matches, 10 wickets), securing his second All*Star selection for the summer as the side’s 12^th player.

2020-21 ACA All*Star Marsh Cup Team of the Year

David Warner (NSW) | 3 matches | 199 runs | 66.33 avg | 1 100 | 1 50

Sam Whiteman (WA) | 3 matches | 220 runs | 44 avg | 3 50s

Peter Handscomb © (VIC) | 4 matches | 299 runs | 74.75 avg | 1 100 | 1 50

Travis Head (SA) | 5 matches | 276 runs | 55.2 avg | 1 100 | 1 50

Steve Smith (NSW) | 2 matches | 213 runs | 213 avg | 1 100 | 1 50

Shaun Marsh (WA) | 2 matches | 167 runs | 83.5 avg | 1 100 | 1 50

Josh Inglis (WK) (WA) | 5 matches | 209 runs | 41.8 avg | 2 50s

Pat Cummins (NSW) | 4 matches | 8 wickets | 17.62 avg |BBI 3/34

Joel Paris (WA) | 3 matches | 10 wickets | 13.3 avg | BBI 4/21

Matt Kuhnemann (QLD) | 4 matches | 10 wickets | BBI 4/37

Ben Dwarshuis (NSW) | 4 matches | 8 wickets | BBI 4/50

Jackson Bird (12^th) (TAS) | 5 matches | 10 wickets | BBI 3/52