GIVE IT A REST BOYS
AARON Finch has a message for Australia’s three-format megastars hoping to play every single match. Tell ‘em they’re dreaming. “We’ve obviously got players that want to play every game for Australia, and if you’re playing across three formats that’s just not possible,” Finch told News Corp.
The 35-year-old has been king of Australia’s white-ball castle for some time. But when Finch was parachuted into the Test team in 2018 on top of those duties even he hit a wall – and that was pre-Covid.
Bubble fatigue is set to sideline more and more players around the globe and Australia will assess each and every one of its Ashes-winning squad members before deciding who has the energy required to light up the white-ball series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Steve Smith motored through all five Ashes Tests – captain Pat Cummins sat out the Adelaide Oval match as a Covid close contact – although Josh Hazlewood (side strain) is targeting a white-ball return against New Zealand ahead of the tour of Pakistan in March.
Finch is feeling fresh as he prepares to lead Australia in three ODIs and six T20s, which start a 34-game run to the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and this year’s T20 World Cup defence at home.
Cricket Australia granted their brilliant leader an exemption to stay at home during the Big Bash and he has jetted out of Tullamarine just once since returning with Australia’s maiden T20 World Cup – for a game in Coffs Harbour that was washed out.
Even Finch’s troublesome knee is on the mend.
“It’s hanging in there, actually,” he said. “It seems to be improving a little bit, which is nice. Anti-inflammatories are my best friend at the moment.”
But how do you diagnose intangible bubble fatigue?
“It’s when guys are acting a little bit different to what they usually do,” he said.
“That can either be they’re just really flat or don’t seem themselves. It’s different.
“I think the environment we’ve created over the last little while means that guys can be really open and honest about that stuff.
“The more that you play with people and the tighter your group is you can start to get a sense for that kind of stuff.
“It’s not something you can measure, it’s just about being good friends as well as good teammates and good players.”
Tired leg-spinner Adam Zampa has detailed the flat feeling at the Covid-ravaged Melbourne Stars as the Big Bash loses its sparkle for players, who are becoming drained by the restrictions long before the international white-ball season.
Coach Justin Langer suspected Glenn Maxwell’s dazzling 62 (28) was played behind a “mask” before he took a mental health break in 2019.
Kiwi captain Kane Williamson and fellow Test stars Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southeee won’t be making the trip, instead staying home to prepare for a red-ball series against South Africa.
That will take the air out of the T20 World Cup final rematch, although Mitch Marsh warned against expecting a soft Kiwis team.
“What we’ve all come to learn about New Zealand is whether their big dogs are here or they send a team with some inexperience, they’re always going to put up a great fight,” Marsh said.
Australia beat the Kiwis to the T20 title while New Zealand holds the World Test Championship and were cruelly denied the ODI World Cup on a ridiculous boundary countback against England.
“I don’t necessarily think that Australia and New Zealand have a big rivalry,” Marsh said.
“We’ve got ultimate respect for them, and I think that respect is very mutual.”
As Finch said: “New Zealand is outstanding. If you look back through their history of white-ball cricket they’ve always been in the semi-finals or finals for a long time.
“So they just find a way to keep getting it done, no matter who they put out on the park.”