Australian Peter Handscomb wants to take 'world-class' Yasir Shah head-on

25-year-old terms Yasir Shah as world-class bowler, hopes to enjoy the challenge posed by the leggie

Australian right-hand batsman Peter Handscomb, who is considered to be one of the finest players of spin bowling, seems to relish the chance of being able to face Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

Pakistan, who beat CA XI on Saturday by 210 runs, are ready to take on Australia for three Tests starting from December 15 at Gabba, Brisbane. The first match will be a day-night affair and Handscomb thinks, if Yasir can prove his first fitness, then he can be a handful in Gabba.

"He's a world-class bowler," said Handscomb who arrived in Brisbane on Saturday with the Australian team ahead of the first Test. "Personally, I am looking forward to getting out there and seeing what it is like to face him.”

He continued: “I haven't seen a great deal of him. But I would dare say he would be able to use the bounce at the Gabba and turn the ball as well.”

Yasir had to sit out of the tour match against CA XI due to a back injury. Teenager Mohammad Asghar was added to the squad in case Yasir wasn’t able to recover in time for the series.

However, Handscomb, who scored a half-century on debut for the Aussies in the third Test against South Africa, is getting ready to to face the Yasir challenge, if the leggie is picked for the first match.

"I have never faced him before but I am sure he will be difficult and hard to pick with the pink ball," said Handscomb. "I am going to enjoy the challenge of getting out there and seeing what happens."

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old is not sure how the pink ball will act in Gabba under lights.

"Those guys [Steven Smith and David Warner] have played pink-ball Shield games here so we will be looking at them to get an understanding of what the wicket and ball might do," he said. "Playing more and more with the pink ball, you start to get an understanding of how it does react.

He added: "But it does vary from place to place. I have played most of mine down south, not at the Gabba under lights."

Peter Handscomb was quoted by Yahoo New Zealand