FINCH IN MIX FOR TOP ROLE
A DECISION on the captaincy of the Australian oneday side does not need to be made until November but Geelong opener Aaron Finch has put a strong case forward to take the role.
Coach Justin Langer stopped short of anointing the Victorian and declared a leadership review would be his next order of business after tours of England and Zimbabwe.
Despite coming up short in the T20 tri-series final in Zimbabwe, which the Aussies lost to Pakistan after a brilliant batting display by Fakhar Zaman, Finch’s captaincy stocks have continued to soar.
He was one of the few batsmen to make any sort of statement in the 5-0 one-day series loss to England last month, making a century in Durham, then he continued to score when the Aussies launched in to T20 mode.
Finch, in charge of the 20over team, posted a brilliant 84 in a losing effort in England then smashed his T20 international world record by scoring 172 off 76 balls against Zimbabwe in Harare last week.
The continued absence of suspended stars Steve Smith and David Warner has created a leadership black hole in the short-form sides that Test captain Tim Paine is unlikely to fill after a fruitless campaign in England.
A scroll through the wouldbe Aussie ODI line-up throws up few names other than 31year-old Finch, who, with 93 matches, is the most experienced and he has also been the long-term skipper of the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash.
There is a sense, however, he is not the lock he would appear and Langer declared a roots and all look at leadership among all the Aussies teams would take place.
The decision takes on more importance given the next ODI skipper would likely be in charge for next year’s World Cup.
Australia’s next one-day series is against South Africa in November.
“He’s done really well in this series,” Langer said of Finch after the final in Harare.
“We’ve talked about it from the day I was appointed, that after this tour we’ll have a really close look at everything we’re doing at the moment.
“From our leadership, which is such an incredibly high priority in Australian cricket, we’ll look at that.”
Finch will look to continue his T20 form for Surrey in the English T20 Blast.
Meanwhile, Australia is sweating on yet another injury scare that could affect its Test XI, with Shaun Marsh sent for scans after hurting his shoulder in the UK.
Marsh landed awkwardly while trying to stop a boundary during a domestic Twenty20 match in Cardiff, having earlier opened the batting alongside Usman Khawaja.
The 35-year-old immediately called for assistance and left the field, with the early signs far from positive.