BAGGY GREEN DREAM COME TRUE
AT LAST! AUSSIE TEST CALL-UP FOR FINCHY
Australia coach Justin Langer hopes Aaron Finch will become the country’s next Test latebloomer after his Pakistan series call-up yesterday.
AUSTRALIA coach Justin Langer hopes Geelong’s Aaron Finch will become the country’s next Test latebloomer after selecting him for the series against Pakistan.
Finch was among five potential debutants selected in the 15-man squad for the twoTest series in the United Arab Emirates next month.
He is likely to open the batting, with Langer nominating Matt Renshaw and Usman Khawaja as other options at the top of the order of the newlook line-up.
Raw paceman Brendan Doggett, Redbacks skipper Travis Head and South African-born duo Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser were the other new additions.
But Langer also found room for a blast from the past, with veteran Victorian paceman Peter Siddle selected in the absence of injured duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Finch has played 93 ODIs and 42 T20s for Australia but it seemed as if he would be forever pigeonholed as a whiteball specialist.
But with batsmen Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft serving their lengthy bans for balltampering, he has been given the perfect chance to prove his worth in the Test arena.
Mike Hussey was 30 before finally earning a baggy green and he went on to carve out a glorious 79-Test career.
Langer hopes Finch, who will turn 32 in November, can follow suit.
“I’m really thrilled for Aaron Finch,” he said.
“Albeit in white-ball cricket, he’s probably as in-form a player as there is in the world at the moment.
“What I love about Aaron Finch is he scores hundreds.
“In Test cricket that’s very important. He’s also in careerbest shape. I know he’s waited a long time for it.
“Hopefully like a Mike Hussey, or a Brad Hodge, or a George Bailey or a Chris Rogers, he can have an impact on Test cricket as well as white-ball cricket.”
Yesterday’s announcement confirms an exclusive Geelong Advertiser report on July 23 that said Finch had been told to prepare for a trip to the United Arab Emirates.
Siddle’s last Test was in 2016 but his hot form for county side Essex convinced Langer to select the 33year-old.
Langer said Siddle was a strong chance to play given his workhorse record and experience in the Test arena.
“He’s in career-best form, in the sense he’s taking a lot of wickets for Essex,” he said.
“He was excellent for Victoria and the Strikers at the end of last year.
“He is an awesome Australian and he will be brilliant for our young bowling group.”
Glenn Maxwell was a surprise omission, with Langer wanting to see more centuries from the Victorian allrounder before selecting him for Test duties.
Peter Handscomb, Joe Burns, and Jhye Richardson were other notable omissions.
The squad contains three spinners. Nathan Lyon is a lock to play, while Jon Holland is favoured to get the nod ahead of Ashton Agar for a spot in the final XI.
Mitch Marsh is favoured to be named vicecaptain.
Squad: Tim Paine (capt), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc.
“What I love about Aaron Finch is he scores hundreds.” – AUSTRALIA COACH JUSTIN LANGER “I’ve got no doubt with the power of his mind and what he has achieved in the white-ball game that he can transfer that into the red-ball game.” – FORMER GEELONG COACH DAMIAN SHANAHAN