FINCH FIFTY DEFIES CRITICS
MAYBE Aaron Finch is a Test opener after all.
The Geelong batsman went into the second Test against India under pressure to perform after his double failure in Adelaide.
The 32-year-old posted scores of 0 and 11 in that opening Test, with his technique against the swinging ball criticised heavily.
There were loud calls for Finch to drop down the order, with critics suggesting he was not up to handling the new ball in Australian conditions.
But Australian coach Justin Langer stuck to his guns, entrusting him to tame India’s all-out pace attack on a green Perth Stadium pitch.
Finch justified the faith by scoring 50 off 105 balls in scorching 37C heat.
His 112-run opening stand with Marcus Harris gave Australia a strong foundation to build a big first-innings total.
Finch is still trying to establish himself in the Test side, but said last night he had not been affected by the recent criticism levelled at him.
“You never play to prove anyone wrong or prove a point, or for any other ambition other than to get your side in as good a position you can,” he said.
“Some days you have a good day, other days you have a shocking day. That’s a part of the game, and it’s part of opening the batting in Test cricket.
“It’s good fun. There’s never a dull moment.”
Finch’s innings was finally brought undone when he was trapped lbw by a full Jasprit Bumrah delivery — a mode of dismissal that continues to be an area for concern.
But by that stage he had already won over plenty of admirers for his gritty knock.
Finch, who is a proven performer in the white-ball game, had scored 20 runs from his first 31 balls.
But he showed he was also capable of grinding it out when the going became tough by scoring three runs from the next 39 balls.
However, Finch’s innings was not without its fair share of scares.
He survived two confident lbw shouts off consecutive balls when he was on 20.
India reviewed the first, with ball-tracking vision showing Mohammed Shami’s delivery would have gone over the stumps.
Finch’s second lbw appeal was even closer — with balltracking vision declaring it would have been the umpire’s call. The original decision was not out, and India did not review it anyway. Finch also survived a run-out scare earlier in his innings.
But those were rare lapses from the right-hander, who was able to maintain a high level of concentration in the sapping heat.
Finch remains a work in progress and his spot in the Test side is still far from cemented, but his first innings in Perth has helped his cause.
It still does not mean it will be permanent — Finch could be in the middle order by the end of the summer — but even backing him for this Test sends a strong message.
Australia was acutely aware how difficult the Perth Stadium pitch was going to play and that the pace, bounce and seam would severely test a player who averages 18 as a first-class opener.
Multiple former players — some of them Langer’s closest mates — have said Finch is better suited in the middle order and even his state, Victoria, has made it clear it doesn’t see him as an opener.
Langer and Test great Ricky Ponting worked intensely with Finch in the nets before the match and were flooding him with positive reinforcement.
He was clearly rattled in Adelaide when he failed in both innings, but the message from Australia to its experienced rookie has been simple.