'Not at all': Cricket legends divided over Aaron Finch experiment
Aussie cricket legends Shane Warne and Mark Waugh are divided over captain Aaron Finch's spot in the team after another lacklustre display in Australia's T20 win over Sri Lanka.
Chasing Sri Lanka's mediocre total of 8-139, the impressive Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell (48 not out) put on a match-winning 71-run stand for the fourth-wicket after Australia's top-three failed to fire.
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Maxwell brought up the winning runs with 11 balls to spare, with Australia now eyeing a clean-sweep in Sunday's series finale.
However, the form of captain Finch was once again in the spotlight after the former opener was moved to No.3 in the order.
Finch hasn't scored a T20 50 since July last year, which was compounded with a score of two on Friday night.
The Australian T20 captain has jumped around the order trying to find form, as Ashton Agar opened the batting with Ben McDermott.
After relinquishing his Melbourne Renegades captaincy after a horror run with the bat, the opener returned to form with 386 runs with an average of 38.6 and a strike rate of 130.40.
In 2021, he hit the second most runs for the calendar year 459 at an average of 28.69.
However, he played 17 matches, which was only less than run leader Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade and Adam Zampa.
But internationally, Finch has struggled.
He only scored 135 runs at the T20 World Cup with an average of 19.29 at a strike rate of 116.38.
Finch averages 22 in his last 16 T20 innings, which marked the last time he scored a 50.
Mark Waugh and Shane Warne divided over Finch
Finch's lack of runs in the green and gold has prompted great Waugh to question his role in the team.
While Finch is captain, Waugh said he needed to be opening the batting if he was to remain in the side.
“His average has dropped from about 35 to the high 20s and it’s probably the way he’s batting, he’s just not dominating like he used to. I think he's a little uncomfortable against raw pace and wrist spin, so he really needs to finish this series really strongly," Waugh said on Fox Sports commentary.
“I’d have him opening again, I don’t know what he didn’t open the other night when he needs runs moving forward. I’m not saying he won’t be there for the World Cup but it’d be great to see him get into some sort of form.”
Waugh was certain there was plenty of pressure on Finch to retain the opening spot next to David Warner, which could be filled with some emerging stars.
“There are probably three or four others who could do the job — McDermott, Josh Philippe, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis I don’t see him at five...I see him opening or not in the team at all.”
Warne weighed-in on the debate and said Finch deserved some faith from the selectors after leading Australia to the T20 World Cup title.
“For me, I don’t think he (Finch) would be happy with how he’s hitting the ball,” Warne said.
“But he’s captain of the side. I think he’d love the opportunity to defend the title here in Australia and I think he’ll be there. I think he will find enough form.”
with AAP
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