A rejuvenated Peter Handscomb has suddenly stormed back into the national spotlight, with Victorian coach Chris Rogers publicly declaring that the 34-year-old could be the long-term answer to Australia’s No. 4 batting position once Steve Smith eventually steps aside. After years of battling perceptions tied to his earlier Test form, Handscomb is producing some of the most complete and confident cricket of his career — and those closest to him believe the timing of his resurgence is no coincidence.

Handscomb has already carved out an impressive domestic season, emerging as the Sheffield Shield’s second-highest run-scorer with 350 runs at 43.75. His form reached a new peak last week during Victoria’s emphatic 300-run victory over New South Wales at the SCG, where he composed a commanding century against an attack led by none other than Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon — three of Australia’s premier Test players. For many observers, it was a statement performance that reinforced his readiness for another crack at the highest level.

Adding further weight to his rising profile, Handscomb was announced on Monday as the captain of the Prime Minister’s XI for the upcoming two-day, pink-ball fixture against England’s touring side in Canberra. The match is designed to help England fine-tune their preparations ahead of next month’s day-night Ashes Test at the MCG, but it also serves as a high-stakes audition for Handscomb, who now finds himself back on the radar of national selectors.

Speaking to Fox Cricket’s Domesticated, Chris Rogers praised the evolution of Handscomb’s technique and mentality, insisting that the experienced batter has made significant strides in correcting the flaws that previously held him back during his initial Test career. Rogers emphasised that public perception has not caught up with Handscomb’s transformation, saying bluntly: “He doesn’t get the credit that he deserves.”

Rogers added that many still assume Handscomb is the same player he was during his Test stint between 2016 and 2023 — a period where he occasionally struggled against high-quality pace due to a deep back-foot guard. But the Victorian coach strongly disputed that notion, declaring: “There’s always that perception that he’s exactly the same player he was when he played Test cricket, but I’ve seen his growth.”

According to Rogers, Handscomb’s willingness to rework his game has been crucial to his resurgence. The right-hander once relied heavily on playing deep in the crease, a method that left him vulnerable to lbw dismissals and balls seaming back through the gate. Rogers explained that Handscomb eventually recognised the limitations of that approach: “He’s gone away and understood that the style of batting he had when he played Test cricket probably wasn’t going to stand up, and it took him a while to get rid of the stubbornness around that, but since then, he’s been so open to a different style.”

The result is a batter who now looks far more composed and assertive at the crease. Rogers pointed to Handscomb’s recent century at the SCG as the perfect example of his revamped method. “If you go and watch that hundred he got against Starc and Hazlewood, you’ll see it’s a very different model. Just how he looked to get forward, he looked to punch back into the ball. He wasn’t just standing on the back foot behind the crease line. It’s a game plan that would do pretty well in international cricket.”

Handscomb’s Test career began with immense promise. He made his debut against South Africa in 2016 and immediately impressed, scoring two centuries in his first four Tests. Yet despite the bright start, consistency eluded him in the years that followed. He finished with an average of 27.20 across 28 innings — a figure that ultimately cost him his spot. There were moments where he came close to earning a recall, including being strongly considered for Australia’s recent Test tour of Sri Lanka, but he missed out at the final selection stage.

Despite those setbacks, Rogers insists Handscomb is now better positioned than ever to succeed in international cricket. When asked whether Handscomb could fill the No. 4 role in the future, particularly once Steve Smith calls time on his illustrious career, Rogers did not hesitate. ”If he got the chance again, I think he’d be much better prepared,” he said confidently.

He went further, openly backing Handscomb as a genuine successor for the pivotal role in Australia’s Test middle order. “If Smith was to retire and there was that opportunity needed for a stable Test No. 4, I think that could definitely be Pete.”

For now, Handscomb’s primary focus remains with Victoria, who are enjoying a flawless Sheffield Shield campaign with four wins from four matches. Their next challenge comes this Saturday against Queensland at the Gabba, where another strong showing from Handscomb could put his Test aspirations into even sharper focus.

The conversation surrounding Australia’s future Test XI is beginning to grow louder, particularly with several veteran players nearing the twilight of their careers. While nothing is guaranteed, Handscomb’s name is firmly back in the mix — and if he continues piling on runs, national selectors may soon find it impossible to ignore the momentum behind him.

As Rogers summarised simply: “Hopefully he keeps scoring runs for us and things play out and he gets another opportunity to get Test level.”