TOP ORDER CHAOS
Cricket’s boardroom bloodletting tests team psyche: Finch
ONE-DAY captain Aaron Finch admits the Cricket Australia bloodletting has put some doubts in his mind. But the Geelong batsman says the dramatic changes to the hierarchy can’t be used as a reason for on-field failures heading into today’s one-day clash with South Africa in Adelaide. “When there are changes, and there are things being said and written about, I think it’s hard not to read it sometimes when it’s everywhere,” he said.
But Finch denied the offfield ructions played a part in Australia’s series-opening loss to South Africa last weekend.
“I don’t think it affected me in terms of my preparation or my performance,” he said.
“You might spend a little bit of time reading it, and putting some kind of doubts in your mind at times, but I think it’s about each individual being 100 per cent committed to their plans and doing whatever the team needs to get the job done.” CA chairman David Peever and director Mark Taylor stood down last week in the wake of a damning review of the organisation’s culture.
CA this week announced high-performance manager Pat Howard would leave next week, while Ben Amarfio, CA’s general manager of broadcasting, digital media and commercial, departed immediately.
‘You might spend a little bit of time reading it, and putting some kind of doubts in your mind at times’
Finch praised Howard’s contribution, saying his exit was “unfortunate”.
“When you’re in his position, you’re in a no-win position,” Finch said. “A lot of the time you have to rob Peter to pay Paul to change all the structures around.
“And whatever is best for the (national) men’s side might not be the best thing for one state in particular at the time.
“He was in a really difficult situation and did an unbelievable job during that period. It’s unfortunate that Pat has gone. I know how much he loved the game.”
But Finch said his one-day squad should be focused solely on snapping a seven-game ODI losing streak when they meet South Africa today.
South African captain Faf du Plessis wants to kick Australia’s one-day side while it’s down. But du Plessis said he still took no pleasure from the turmoil engulfing cricket in Australia.
“It’s never nice when it carries on for so long,” du Plessis said.
“I think everyone in their camp would just like to start afresh now and make sure they can focus on the cricket.”
But du Plessis makes no apology for a ruthless on-field approach, saying the Proteas must grasp a chance to sink the proverbial boot into Australia.
“I believe you have to,” he said. “If you do get an oppor- tunity against Australia where you can put your foot on the gas, it’s really important to try and do that because it’s not often you get those opportunities.”
Du Plessis’ South Africans dished out Australia’s seventh consecutive one-day loss in the series opener in Perth last Sunday, coasting to a sixwicket win.