Peter Handscomb wants to play the anchor role in Australia's inexperienced batting line-up during the three-match ODI tussle against world no.2 ranked, India and believes he can relish this responsibility after receiving a "surprise" call-up to the limited overs outfit by the selectors. 

Other senior players in Peter Siddle, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon were also announced as part of the 14-man squad for the series kickstarting on January 12 in Sydney, but one certain unorthodox right-hander wants to stand out for his side. 

"It was a really, really good phone call and I'm excited to get out there and hopefully help the boys," the 27-year-old told cricket.com.au during a Facebook Live chat, "A little bit of a surprise but it was nice to know."

Handscomb, who's innocuous technique has been widely criticised, put forward his claim for selection in the white-ball format by smashing an amazing 70 from 35 balls for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL). The Victorian also led from the front in the domestic list A competition scoring 361 runs at 51.57 in eight matches at the start of this summer. 

"That's sort of the role I played for Victoria; coming in the middle order, control it, try and tick it over at a run a ball and just get the other batter on strike," Handscomb, having scored 149 runs across his eight ODIs after a debut in January 2017, further said.  

"Then hopefully leave a few wickets in the shed for some fireworks at the back end. I've been pushing my case in one-day domestic stuff and the T20 the other night out here. It was good to get out here and show my white-ball stuff is OK as well."