Aaron Finch’s expected Test selection in the UAE next month may have as much to do with his suitability to play in next year’s Ashes as it does his competence against spin.
Finch was a surprise pick in Australia’s 15-man squad for the two Tests against Pakistan but now appears almost certain to play the first Test, most likely batting in the middle order.
It has been widely interpreted that Finch was picked, in part, due to his assured handling of spin bowling in Asian conditions, albeit in ODI cricket. In that format Finch has averaged nearly 40 in Asia at a strike rate of 99, and across his career has averaged 48 against spin.
Against spin in ODIs, Finch uses his feet nicely, has a powerful sweep shot and exploits the full depth of the crease to cut and pull any deliveries which are marginally short.
The selectors will hope he can bat with similar fluency against spin on Test debut in the UAE, where Australia’s batsmen were flummoxed by the home tweakers last time they toured four years ago. In that series. leg spinner Yasir Shah and left arm finger spinner Zulfiqar Babar ran amok, combining for 26 wickets at 21.
On their more recent tours of Asia, Australia have talked up their horses-for-courses selection strategy, one which seems to have helped Finch finally earn a Test squad berth.
Is Finch the answer to Australia’s spin woes? (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
After announcing the squad to tour the UAE, Australian chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns praised Finch’s “sensational form” and said he added generous experience and leadership to the group.
What he didn’t mention was Finch’s success in English county cricket in recent years, something I believe may well have been a factor in his selection. Although The Ashes is still ten months away, it undoubtedly will be on the minds of the selectors as they look to mould a team they believe can finally win a Test series in England.
With doubt over the Test future of the banned David Warner, and question marks over the stability of Australia’s middle order, the selectors may see Finch as an Ashes insurance policy.
By getting him into the Test team now, should Finch thrive in the longest format in the UAE and across six home Tests this summer, he’ll be well prepared for his first Ashes.
On the surface, Finch does not look like the type of batsman who would be suited to playing against the Dukes in England. In ODI cricket he can be leaden footed, and tends to rely on his hand-eye coordination.
But the proof is in the pudding – the Yorkshire pudding, to be specific. Across 15 matches for that county and for Surrey in Division One of the County Championship, Finch has made 823 runs at 43. He has passed 50 six times in 20 innings across those stints, a good indication of consistency.
Finch clearly has improved as a batsman in recent years yet, as far back as four years ago, he was showing impressive aptitude against the swinging Dukes ball against good county bowlers. His first county ton, in 2014, came in a low-scoring match against a Warwickshire attack featuring four bowlers who had played Test cricket – Chris Woakes, Boyd Rankin, Jeetan Patel and Rikki Clarke.
Since then, Finch has piled up 2,297 runs at 49 in first-class cricket. While he has only scored five tons in that time, he has passed fifty once per 2.8 innings, a highly-impressive ratio.
Of course, none of this guarantees Finch even a modicum of success next winter against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, or in the UAE.
But it will have given the selectors a reason to consider Finch as a strong option for the next Ashes, which in turn may help him get picked to make his Test debut next month.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I think it will have to be higher than that, Ronan. When the Ashes come around, both Bancroft and Warner will be available. My concern with Finch is that he will be like Ken Eastwood. If he doesn't excel, he'll be gone.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
I cant see any gains in having Mitch Marsh ahead of Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch. His test performances simply don't line up as a number four, unless you are trying to ensure that collapse of which you speak. Head at three can be worth a try, but surely the senior Marsh and Finch would have to bat at four and five, if the top three are as your list. Although Shaun Marsh averages nearly 43 as a test opener, leaving Khawaja to bat at three, where he has batted for 51 of his 57 test innings. Finch replacing Smith at four, Head fitting in for the elevated Shaun Marsh at five and Mitch Marsh at six , a position more suited to his 27.86 test average than your suggested 2nd drop. Without Smith and Warner, there is enough natural turbulence in our batting order, so why would we add to it by batting players out of position?
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
True. Good point. Perhaps our selectors see being unpredictable as a good thing? As far as I can gather, selectors, regarding test selections, want to see centuries in any format and a decent ratio of 30 scores. Apparently, they don't value test centuries higher than a List A ton and certainly not in conditions similar to the upcoming series, if Maxwell and Burns are a gauge. Recent domestic runs counted big too, with Renshaw, Head and Finch all making county runs. Current form isn't silly, but given the consistency selectors want from the players, surely some from them would be good too...
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
It's an interesting stat Pope, but since then Siddle has averaged a paltry 12 with the bat from 21 Tests. Those are the numbers of a genuine number 11, as is his career Test average of 14.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Hey BG. Siddle scored 2 x 50s in India. Might be the only 8 or 9 bat to score 2 x 50s in any test? Or only Australian at any rate.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Who knows John, it is nearly impossible to guess what the selectors will do for any given series, in any format.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
Would give a try with Head at 3 - i think that's where he made all his runs in A series in India. So Khawaja and Renners to open , Head 3 , MMarsh 4 , SMarsh 5 , Finch 6 , Paine 7 and bowlers 7-11. Finch , SMarshes and Paine need to be ready for rescue acts !!! Deliberately putting SMarsh , Finch and Paine as 5,6,7 as they are the type of calm heads would be required in case of a collapse early on / to face reverse swing late on
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
If Finch does get his chance in the test arena this upcoming series, how long should the selectors show faith if he doesn't continue his recent county form? For example, if a test hundred in India, cant firm you for a start in the next home test series, what does Finch need to do in the UAE?
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Yeah that was great to see. A bit more difficult obviously in a test match with better bowlers and 3 or 4 opposition players chirping around the bat. I just feel the most difficult and most dangerous time to bat in the sub continent is at 4,5,6 and 7 when the ball is a bit older and you’ve just lost 1 or 2 quick wickets. That’s why I’d have Head and Khawaja in the top 3. Holland has to play as he’s more likely to take wickets than Agar, but agree Agar’s batting has to be a massive consideration if you got Lyon and Holland both genuine no 11’s. That’s why I’d seriously consider playing Agar as the stock bowler, keep things really tight while we penetrate from the other end. I think we are a big chance of winning, even with a depleted team, but forget it if we bat second.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Head did bat surprisingly well against spin in India this past month, in both the red ball and white ball matches, will be very interested to see if he can continue that in the UAE.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I really don’t think it matters. I’m a huge fan of Finch for ODIs and T20 but he’s never had a FC record deserving of a test start. We’re in real trouble if we are guessing/hoping he might do better than at any time in a lengthy career against a strong opponent on difficult wickets. We roll the dice with Finchy but get rid of Maxy. Joke
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Sorry if you’ve already read this, I’ve cut and pasted from another article of Ronan’s. Personally, there is no way I’d bat Head outside the top 3. He’s sus against spin. Quite often over the years in the sub continent we have been 1 for 80 odd and then the ball gets a tad older and starts gripping and spinning and it turns quickly to 4 or 5 for 100. You don’t want Head coming in at 5 in the middle of a collapse. You need a cool head with a bit of experience. Shaun Marsh and Finch are the best we have for that situation. So If Head is to play which I think he should with the squad they have selected then it has to be 3. Khawaja is in the same boat to, he has to open. With the bowlers selected we are going to be relying on Starc, Holland and Lyon taking 17 of the 20 wickets to fall. So I’d be playing Agar as the 4th bowler as he can bowl 30 overs and keep it tight at one end and finish with figures around 1 or 2 for 70 or 80. It then also provides you with a lot stronger tail with Lyon and Holland being genuine no 11’s, and his fielding is electric which also makes up for Holland who I think is pretty ordinary in the field. So I’d be going Renshaw Khawaja Head S. Marsh Finch M.Marsh Paine Agar Starc Lyon Holland
BurgyGreen
Guest
To be fair to Gaz and Siddle I reckon they're genuine number 10s, but yeah definitely a long tail
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
That's the same XI I'd pick from this squad, but as far as the selectors go I'm certain they'll pick Siddle instead of Neser. That's going to leave Australia with a very weak tail, with basically three number 11s in Lyon, Holland and Siddle.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I really, really hope they don't open with him. If they want to get the best out of him, he needs to bat in the middle order. Considering the squad (which is awful) I'd play this team: 1. Khawaja 2. Renshaw 3. S. Marsh 4. Finch 5. Head 6. M. Marsh 7. Paine 8. Neser 9. Starc 10. Lyon 11. Holland Pretty dire but with the squad they've selected I reckon that's the best we can do. Potentially worth playing Agar ahead of Holland for the extra batting and because he bowled well in Bangladesh, but I reckon Holland has earned a go and is going to do more to help us get 20 wickets. Or maybe, if the pitch is a real turner, it's worth going with three spinners and just having Starc and Marsh as seam options? I'd almost favour this if I wasn't concerned about Marsh's ability to bowl long tight spells without breaking down.
AREH
Roar Guru
It might be effective in the UAE, I'm not sure. But I couldn't think of much worse than him opening up if he was part of next year's Ashes side, against England's bowlers doing their thing at home with the new ball, yikes! I suspect even if he does open in the UAE it would not necessarily be permanent; we are talking about a pretty unique circumstance here.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
Jeez, easy tiger. See Ronan's response for the context of my comment.
Paul
Roar Guru
Nice article Ronan. Finch probably deserves his spot, if for no other reason than he's probably the best available option. I just hope he takes advantage of his opportunity. It would be great to have a stable order before the Ashes, assuming Warner and Smith slot back into the side.
I no
Roar Rookie
Sorry no score above 500 couple above 400 and a couple less then 200.
I no
Roar Rookie
Thanks ronan if you look at the most recent test series in the UAE it was against WI and there were scores of just over 200 and then there were scores above 400 there was even a score above 500 when azhar ali scored 300 so you cant expect what type of pitches that are going to be played on.