Middlesex expect to have their captain Peter Handscomb available from the third County Championship game of the season next month.
Handscomb was announced as Middlesex’s new captain in late 2019, but saw the first season of his two-year contract delayed by the pandemic.
Stevie Eskinazi will continue to deputise as captain, as he did last season. He is leading the side in a gentle pre-season match against Yorkshire at Merchant Taylor’s School.
Middlesex expect Handscomb to make his debut for the county in the third match of the season, a London derby against Surrey at Lord’s.
Victoria, who Handscomb captains, are unlikely to make either the Sheffield Shield or Marsh One-Day Cup in April, meaning his Australian summer is likely to end on April 7.
With travel logistics not straightforward, Handscomb is therefore set to miss Middlesex’s games Somerset at Lord’s from April 8 and Hampshire at Southampton a week later.
Handscomb, who has not played for Australia in any format since 2019, has had a strong season, making 424 Sheffield Shield runs at 53 and 168 One-Day runs at 56.
Other Australian players have seen their county arrivals delayed due to the extension of their domestic season, including Michael Neser and Marnus Labuschange of Queensland and Glamorgan.
