Finch says he’s ready to take Test spot

“Absolutely, I feel my technique has changed over the last couple of years,’’ Finch said when asked whether he was up to the challenge of opening in Tests in Australia.

“In the UAE my technique really tightened up. Those technique changes have probably hurt me a bit in the one dayers. I am not quite as free, more focused technique on keeping everything tight and straight and simple.

“It’s a few changes that are simple but I feel they give me the best chance in the longer format.

“Honestly I would bat anywhere, having opened in limited overs cricket for a long time helped making that transition in the UAE, but playing most of my career in the middle of the order in the longer format gives me an advantage as well.

“When I first started for Victoria I batted at three. Victoria had quite a successful opening partnership for a while. I tried four and opening, over a period. I was still trying to work out my four-day game and still haven’t worked it out 100 per cent yet.

“There was a bit of mixing and matching going on there but Victoria have had some really solid openers over the last 10 years. It is hard to demand that spot.’’

Finch captains Australia in the two white-ball formats and was recently given sobering feedback from his teammates in a leadership forum conducted to select Australia’s vicecaptain. “It didn’t shock me,’’ he said. “Any of the constructive criticism I got back was stuff I was already aware of and trying to improve ... talking too much, talking for the sake of it, body language on the field.

“It was a clip at the time but a good reassurance that we are moving in the right direction.’’