Green day put on hold
Cam unlikely for Cup
AARON Finch says it is unlikely Cameron Green plays his way into Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup calculations, with the skipper backing Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh to be fully fit in time for their first game against New Zealand on October 22.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash with the West Indies on the Gold Coast, Finch was confident Stoinis and Marsh would be ready to fire for the World Cup opener which would leave in-form allrounder Green on the outer.
Green starred in the recent three-match T20 series in India, hitting two half-centuries as an opener and going at just 4.66 with the ball in game three.
But that form will not earn him a World Cup call-up unless Stoinis or Marsh are unable to get up in time, which Finch says is unlikely.
“I don’t think so,” the skipper said on Green’s World Cup hopes.
“Potentially, but Stoin has tracked really well. It’s just purely the logistics of flying and short turnarounds coming off the back of soft tissue injuries (why he’s not playing against the West Indies).
“The reason we’ve carried (Green) is to have another bowling resource as well.
“Obviously his batting is exceptional and he shows a lot with the ball. He keeps developing and improving every time he gets an opportunity. Over the next few weeks he’ll get a run no doubt.”
Stoinis remained in Perth to focus on recovering from the side strain he suffered last month, however Marsh travelled with the team to Queensland for the two-game series against the West Indies.
The West Australian injured his ankle in August and Finch revealed he would not bowl on Wednesday but that he was happy for Marsh to play as a specialist batsman until the ankle had fully healed.
“No (he won’t bowl),” Finch said. “He had his second bowl yesterday and pulled up well from it which is a really positive sign.
“He’s made that No.3 spot his own in T20 cricket and I think the way he played in the lead-up and (how he will play) through the World
Cup is so important for the way we want to play.”
The skipper would not reveal the team for Wednesday’s match at Metricon Stadium but conceded the health of the allrounders was making it difficult, with selectors considering playing five bowlers to test combinations.
Ashton Agar is the only other player not 100 per cent fit as he works back from the side strain he picked up in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in June.