Finch still chance to play T20s
AUSTRALIAN captain Aaron Finch’s hopes of playing in Sunday’s T20 international against Sri Lanka have been boosted after he was named in Victoria’s one-day squad to face Western Australia.
Finch missed the Sheffield Shield clash against the Warriors with a back niggle and side strain, prompting fears he could miss Australia’s opening T20 match of the summer.
But Victoria yesterday cleared the way for his return to the national team, naming him in the 13-man selection to face WA at the WACA today.
Finch is still no certainty to play in that one-day domestic game, but it is an indication he is nearing peak fitness.
“We’ll give him every chance to play, he just couldn’t get up for the shield game,” Victoria coach Andrew McDonald said.
“He’s obviously a quality player and and one of our leaders, so we’re keen to have him out there. But it’s a long season and if he’s not fully fit then we won’t take any chances.”
Finch is the No.4-ranked batsman in T20 cricket, and is expected to open the batting with David Warner against Sri Lanka. The Adelaide clash starts a three-match T20 series against the tourists, before another three-game series follows against Pakistan in the same format. APPLICATIONS to join the national selection panel close today, but Australia could go into the Test series against Pakistan next month without the role filled.
Cricket Australia has been accepting applications via job website Seek, as well as sounding out potential candidates to take the place of Greg Chappell, whose tenure ended after the fifth Ashes Test in September. The panel was reduced to chairman Trevor Hohns and coach Justin Langer.
CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said recently the next selector could have a strong T20 background ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
Hohns and Langer picked the squad for Australia’s three T20 clashes against Sri Lanka. It’s understood CA officials are in no rush to make the next appointment to the selection panel. Priority has been put on appointing a new full-time assistant coach for Langer after the departure of Brad Haddin.