White goes the Bash
OPENING batsman Aaron Finch will lead the Australian Twenty20 team in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka with captain Steve Smith and vice- captain David Warner resting ahead of the India tour.
Finch, who was stand- in captain in Monday’s one- day international against New Zealand, will take the helm for three matches in February, Cricket Australia announced yesterday.
“It’s very exciting to be back and leading the side in Steve’s absence,” said Finch, who has captained the national Twenty20 side six times.
“It’s been a rollercoaster from being captain leading up to the ICC World Twenty20 ( in 2016), being injured and then Steve taking over the reins for that tournament, but it’s something that any time you get the chance to captain your country in any format, you’re very chuffed about.”
Finch captained the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 Big Bash competition and believes selectors will be spoiled for depth in the absence of some of Australia’s top playmakers.
“There are some extraordinary players around the country that will now get an opportunity and I think that’s only a good thing for Australian cricket,” he said. VICTORIAN veteran Cameron White has slammed Australia’s selectors and lamented the domestic landscape, which he believes is diluting the importance of the Sheffield Shield.
White made the most runs in this season’s Matador Cup, averaging 76 with two half centuries and two hundreds.
Despite the numbers complementing his Shield form, White, 33, hasn’t represented Australia since January 2015.
Even when spots opened up due to injury, poor form or rest and rotation, the selectors have opted for younger players — and White is not happy.
“I’m just a little worried, to be honest, on the importance the selectors are putting on domestic cricket,” White told RSN Breakfast radio in Melbourne .
“For years, the strength of the Australian game has been the domestic game. I’m just not sure there has been m u c h i mportance put on that and it worries me for the future of A u s t r a l i a n cricket and the strength cricket.”
Sam Heazlett appears to be White’s case in point.
With no one- day games for of AUSTRALIA will continue to bash the ball down the ground in the second Chappell- Hadlee one- dayer in Napier tomorrow, according to New Zealand coach Mike Hesson. But this time, it may not be so effective. The Black Caps won by six runs at Eden Park, Auckland, on Monday, despite extraordinary lower- order resistance from Marcus Stoinis. The 27year- old smashed 146 not out, including 11 sixes, eight of them down the ground. Eden Park’s notorious short straight boundary made life easier for Stoinis. But the challenge for the Australian batsmen would be different in Napier, where the square boundary is shorter. “We got hit to areas Australian of the park we didn’t want to, whereas at McLean Park ( Napier), that’s probably where we want to get hit,” Hesson said.
“We’ll probably go straighter ball than wider ball, and the lengths you bowl are going to be different.”
The lower order was also effective as the Kiwis made 9- 286, with Neil Broom ( 73) and No. 7 Jimmy Neesham ( 48) saving the Black Caps from collapse at 134- 5.
Using opener Tom Latham Queensland ( six for the CA Academy for one ton and two 50s), he was thrust into the green and gold at Eden Park on Monday, making just four in Australia’s thrilling loss.
None of the top 18 runscorers in the most recent 50- over Matador Cup carnival are in the Australian one- day team.
Moises Henriques finished second to White for runs scored, while Daniel Hughes, Alex Doolan and Callum Ferguson rounded out the top five. as a wicketkeeper and deploying No. 6 Colin Munro as a part- time seam bowler created space for batting quality.
“It always helps when you’ve got guys who bowl and keep in your top six, it gives you options and allowed us to bat deeper,” Hesson said.
The Kiwis will have to change their top order tomorrow. Opener Martin Guptill, who appeared distressed after diving to his left in the field on Monday, has been ruled out with a hamstring strain. Dean Brownlie replaces Guptill in the squad.
Hesson said the strain was minor and Guptill was a chance to play in Game 3 in Hamilton on Sunday.
“He’ll remain with the team and we’ll continue to monitor him,” he said.
Nic Maddinson ( ninth) got his crack at Test level shortly after the Matador Cup, but is yet to play one- day cricket and hasn’t earned a T20I cap since November 2014.
“We’ve seen with selection over the last period of time that the Big Bash seems to be the be- all and end- all,” White said.
“You can get picked to play for Australian in any format out of the Big Bash, really. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Marcus Stoinis hits one of his 11 sixes at Eden Park on Monday.
“I grew up watching and dreaming of playing for Australia and thinking how hard is it going to be to get a game for Australia and earn the absolute right?
“Now it sort of seems like in some terms and some stages is a development team.
“For me, playing for Australia isn’t about giving you a chance to develop.
“Domestic cricket is where that happens and at Futures League ( level).”