Skipper’s recovery on track ahead of Cup
AUSTRALIAN captain Aaron Finch has taken a major step in his T20 World Cup preparation after knee surgery.
With the preparations of several squad members hit by a lack of cricket in Australia and the Indian Premier League, Finch has hit the nets in Victoria and is on the path to recovery in time for Australia’s tournament opener on
October 23.
Finch had to leave the white-ball tour of the West Indies in July after injuring his knee, which required surgery.
His return to play just three weeks out from Australia’s World Cup opener against South Africa is a positive sign for a team which needs some good news.
After David Warner was dropped by his IPL team, Steve Smith finally got the call-up for the Ricky Pontingcoached Delhi Capitals, scoring a game-high 39 in a losing side on Tuesday night.
Both Smith and Warner, who is unlikely to play again this IPL season, missed the white-ball tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh to use the IPL as their World Cup warm-up.
Neither had played cricket since April before heading to the United Arab Emirates for the tournament. Smith was also recovering from a shoulder injury.
Other Australian T20 World Cup squad members Glen Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood have been seeing plenty of IPL game time, but Marcus Stoinis is still overcoming a knee injury.
The Australians plan to have two warm-up matches before the World Cup opener on October 23.