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Hobart skipper still in dark over spinner

3 minute read

Hobart captain Peter Handscomb doesn't know when Sandeep Lamichhane will be available for the BBL team, but he is backing the spinner to make an impact.

PETER HANDSCOMB
PETER HANDSCOMB Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

When it comes to the availability of Hobart Hurricanes' recruit Sandeep Lamichhane, captain Peter Handscomb remains in the dark.

The Nepalese leg-spinner is yet to play in this summer's Big Bash League after testing positive for COVID-19 in November before arriving in Australia.

With the Hurricanes now in a Hub in Queensland, Handscomb said it remains unclear when the 20-year-old will be allowed to join his new teammates.

"No idea. Don't know anything," Handscomb said.

"I don't know when these guys come in. I walk into the room and someone's like, 'oh he's coming in three days' and I'm like, 'perfect'."

The former Australian Test batsman played with Lamichhane at the Melbourne Stars and Handscomb is confident that when he is available, he'll prove to be a big asset for the Hurricanes.

"He's a world-class leggie and he's got tricks," Handscomb said.

"He's not easy to pick and he's quite fast through the air.

"Over the years, he's bowled really well for the Stars, taking wickets throughout the middle overs, which can be tough sometimes ... but he can come in and break the game open, which is really, really handy.

"When he does come in, it's gonna be awesome."

The Hurricanes did get a first look at one of their main recruits in Sunday's four-wicket loss to Brisbane at the Gabba in English import Dawid Malan.

The world's No.1-ranked Twenty20 batsman could only make 15 against the Heat in a tough night for the Hurricanes but Handscomb is confident his talent will shine through more often than not.

"He's No.1 in the world, but he doesn't score runs every innings. No-one scores runs every innings," Handscomb said.

"Virat Kohli fails more times than he succeeds when he bats and he's the best, so the rest of us are just hoping that we get one in every five or something like that.

"Dawid's fine. He's striking them well in the nets, he's ready to come out. He will score runs ... he's bloody good."

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