The Australian selectors clearly like Aaron Finch. The Victorian was selected for the recent Australia A tour of Africa despite averaging 16 with the bat over the past two Shield seasons.
The hype surrounding the belligerent batsmen has even led to some cricket followers suggesting him as a potential candidate for this summer’s Ashes.
Finch himself told Cricinfo this week he believed he was prepared for Test cricket.
“I feel as though my game is ready to play well in four-day cricket and would be ready if I did get a gig in the Test team,” he said.
“It’s not a technical thing, just a mental thing with the four-day game. I feel as though I’ve made some good improvements in the last 12 months to be able to deal with that, and hopefully take that game to another level.
“To play Test cricket is my ultimate goal still, I definitely haven’t lost that ambition. I feel as though I’m now in a really good space to do that.”
The 26-year-old’s impressive deeds at limited overs level should not conceal his continued failures in first-class cricket, where he averages 29.56 after 33 matches.
Granted, the stocky stroke maker has played a string of dazzling innings for Australia in the past two months.
He caught the attention of the world cricket community with a staggering display of striking en route to making 156, including a record 14 sixes, in the T20 match against England at Southampton.
Finch followed that blitzkrieg with another belligerent effort just days later in an ODI against Scotland, caning the minnow side for 148 from 114 balls.
Then last week he lit up the one-off T20 encounter with India, smacking 89 to help Australia rack up a mammoth total.
He rode that wave of form to make 72 in the opening ODI contest against India on Sunday.
Undoubtedly, Finch is a gifted limited overs player and could be a fixture of Australia’s ODI and T2O sides for years to come.
But he remains a long way short of being even a solid first-class batsman.
In fact, he will be fortunate just to get a game for Victoria in the Shield this summer such is his record.
Over his past two Shield seasons for the Bushrangers, Finch has made only 300 runs in 11 matches.
Yet that was somehow deemed sufficient output to warrant a position at the top of the order for Australia A against South Africa and Zimbabwe in July.
Not surprisingly, he laboured in those three first-class matches, averaging 26 from six innings.
Admittedly, the drought in Australian batting talent meant there was not a wealth of options for the Aus A tour.
But selecting someone whose form over the previous two Shield seasons had been so dire sends a very poor message to the ranks of Shield players.
Finch’s efforts at first-class level appear to bely his talent and he may well develop into a good long-form batsman.
As it stands, however, his performances do not go close to matching the hype.
Australia’s Test batting stocks may be at their lowest ebb in decades, but that would be no excuse to pick a limited overs hitter like Finch.
Aakash bhat
Guest
I think He has somewhat secured himself the opening spot for the ist test
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Good to see Warner back in run scoring form. He is a very damaging Test player on home soil (as evidenced by his 900 or so runs at 50 in home Tests).
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'd still love to see Khawaja given an extended run in the side but that appears unlikely. Considering that, Bailey is at the moment a reasonable option to bat at 6. I'd love to see him made captain of the Aus A side against Eng and if he bats well there give him a crack. He and Cosgrove are my favoured options for the number 6 spot.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Absolutely Gav. The introduction of two new balls also means that batsmen are challenged by the moving ball more than they were.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Exactly.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I hope the selectors are that patient
JGK
Roar Guru
Maddinson fails again.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
On a postage stamp ground in a different format ... it might get him back into the ODI side come January but should have no bearing on Test selction, any more than his failure prior to the last two innings should.
Aakash bhat
Guest
Warner has scored another ton
Bayman
Guest
Ronan, Agreed. Shot selection is really all about patience. Going for the big shot, especially early, indicates a lack of it.
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
We have so many openers in the country at the moment. Rogers, Hughes, Warner, Khawaja, Maddinson, Marsh, Klinger and Quiney all ahead of Finch. If we see a solid shield season, then John Inverarity will consider him
Gav
Guest
I like that point Ronan. Times have changed, and ODI runs need to be considered when taking test selections into account. But it's how and under what circumstances the runs are made that needs to be the criteria. I believe we have enough talent in both our batting stocks and bowling to be a champion team again in the next 3 years, what i don't have faith in is CA, selection policy, and particularly coaching to get us there. Couldn't help but think the other day, how Adam Gilchrist would be considered and treated (talking about his batting), if he were a young buck starting out today. Would he be put into the box as a 20/20 only player....or a ODI specialist...... This is a bloke who was well below par in his first couple of Shield seasons, but finished his career with a test average of 47! When I think of the Warner's, Smiths, Finch, Quiny etc etc.......I can only think what an amazing group of raw talent (hand eye coordination etc) that the modern era has bought to the fore. Who is going to convert the potential and talent? I like Darren Lehman, but is he a strong enough coach, or just there to "smooth the waters" between certain players. James Sutherland does very little to inspire confidence (and that's being nice). As for the selectors who are regularly making the situation worse, those who presided over the selection of Agar, and what that did to the team culture and Nathan Lyon...... can we please shoot them?
Aakash bhat
Guest
+1
Matt
Guest
I believe if your scoring runs, your in form. That run scoring ability can be transferred between forms of the game. Finch isn't quite test quality at the moment but i believe based on Baileys form, he should bat at 5 in the first test
Aakash bhat
Guest
I was just making a point that agressive batting has been successful in the past and finch shouldn't be discarded completely just bcoz he is naturally agressive batsman.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I believe Warner can be a good Test player for Aus but he is a long, long, long way from deserving to be mentioned alongside that trio of legends.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I just can't imagine how Test cricket won't be genuinely marginalised over the next few decades. T20 is being prioritised by most of the main cricketing bodies already and, accordingly, many young players will aim for success in the most glamorous form of the game.
Aakash bhat
Guest
Did u accept my frnd request and then unfriend me?
Aakash bhat
Guest
You were talking abt warner,right?
ChrisUK
Guest
I'm quite hopeful too. I suppose the answer is that some people want to be remembered, some people want to have the respect that goes with being viewed as amongst the very best. T20 is a shortcut for those that can do it, and there will be lots who do take that option. Money in itself isn't a great motivator once you reach a certain point, most businesses know that. At my club, we put together all the records over a couple of centuries history (truly!), and what was striking was how once people knew they were there, they strove to break them. Records and achievements that had stood for a hundred years started falling regularly - presumably (I'm no psychologist) because people wanted that against their name for all eternity. There's no financial incentive, it's purely and simply the cachet that results. I'm not sure that's exactly comparable of course, but it's fascinating to see how humans respond and what they really want.