Finch on warpath

AARON Finch has gone from the crossroads of his career to creating Australia’s path to glory by finding the form of his life as World Cup captain.

Finch, 32, struck his second century in three games – and his second World Cup ton against England – to help Australia lock in their eighth World Cup semi-final.

It was Finch who decided to break up the Mitchell StarcPatrick Cummins new-ball partnership by giving Jason Behrendorff the first over, setting up the left-armer’s maiden five-wicket haul.

Australia started the clash against England at Lord’s underdogs and finished favourites for a sixth World Cup as their reputation as the bestdrilled team swelled.

The Aussies are 7-0 in semifinals while England are in a fight to reach the final four for the first time since 1992.

Finch suspected his hopes of leading Australia at a World Cup were shot after he was removed as skipper before the T20 tournament in 2016.

But after eight seasons as Melbourne Renegades captain, he has evolved into the World Cup’s standout leader, according to England great Michael Vaughan.

“I’ve changed a lot,” Finch said. “I used to talk a lot and some feedback from the boys was: ‘Don’t talk so much’. So I took that on board.

“I don’t tend to talk as much around team meetings, I try to let everyone else have their own say and just contribute where I need to.”

David Warner (500 runs) and Finch (496) are now the tournament’s top runscorers.

Selectors discussed punting Finch when he averaged just seven runs in five straight ODIs during a lean run last summer but suddenly he is the backbone of the inspired charge to the semi-finals.