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Shane Warne has called on Australia selectors to stick with Aaron Finch and believes his fellow Victorian should be considered as a future Test captain.
Finch scored 62 and 49 in his maiden two Test innings against Pakistan this week after being drafted into the side at the age of 31 to bolster a batting line-up that is missing the vastly experienced Steve Smith and David Warner.
With Australia facing a heavy defeat in Dubai, Warne said the team boasts the weakest batting line-up he can remember less than a year out from the defence of the Ashes in England.
Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be eligible for selection after their suspensions for the Cricket World Cup and the Ashes and Warne expects all three to walk straight back into the side.
“We need them,” Warne told BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday.
“I think Australia’s batting at the moment is the worst I have seen it.
“I hope they stick with Aaron Finch and he continues to makes some runs, he’s someone that could captain the side.”
The reputation of the suspended trio has taken a battering both in Australia and internationally following the sand paper incident during the fourth Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
Warne conceded they will still need to demonstrate contrition, but insists selectors have little choice but to get them back in the side as soon as they are available.
“It takes time and they are going to need to earn the respect of the cricket community from around the world,” he said.
“They need to get back the respect of the Australian public and that will only take time. It depends on how they come back and conduct themselves.
“But if they come back and make some hundreds then all will be forgotten and we’ll be saying how much we missed them.
“Warner and Smith will definitely get back in Bancroft too and if you add them to (Usman) Khawaja and Shaun Marsh the batting line-up looks a lot better.”
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