Australian limited overs captain Aaron Finch is now his country’s only three-format player, but his imperious form has evaporated since he was handed this major challenge last month.
In 11 limited overs internationals since completing his debut Test series in the UAE, Finch has made just 124 runs at an average of 11. To highlight just how steeply Finch’s form has dropped, consider that he made 551 runs at 55 in his 11 white ball matches previous to that Test series.
This commanding touch in the shorter formats helped Finch to earn a spot in Australia’s Test team in the UAE, where he impressed as an opener. Pitted against the world’s in-form Test bowler, Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas, Finch made scores of 62, 49, 39 and 31 in the two-Test series.
Many cricket followers had doubted that Finch, long a short form specialist, could successfully make the switch to Test cricket. A belligerent white ball batsman, it was unclear whether he had the patience and technique to be able to consistently survive the new ball in Test cricket.
On the limited sample size of that one series, Finch seems better suited to Test cricket than many of us expected. Instead of looking to bully the Pakistan opening bowlers in the manner of David Warner and former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, Finch took an old-school approach.
He looked to remove most of the risks from his game early in each of his Test innings, seeking to blunt the new ball before gradually becoming more adventurous in his strokeplay. Finch worked the ones and twos nicely, with boundaries accounting for only 40 per cent of his runs in that Test series.
As I watched Finch make these adjustments, I wondered how his new career as a Test cricketer would affect his limited overs performances. Part of me felt that it may make him a more rounded ODI and T20I batsman, less reliant on boundaries and better able to pace an inning.
On the other hand, I thought there was a risk that it could tamper with his natural, aggressive instincts. Particularly in T20 cricket, it is Finch’s ability to play without fear that helps make him such an effective batsman.
Whereas being impulsive can be a curse for a Test batsman, it can be a blessing for a T20 strokemaker.
(AP Photo Ross Setford)
When Finch is in full flow in the shortest format, it is almost as if his eyes have rolled back in his head like a great white shark attacking its prey. He appears not to have any thoughts in his mind apart from: “Smash this next delivery”.
The fear of failure, of being dismissed cheaply, is difficult for batsmen to ignore. It is an instinct that must be cast aside in order to be a consistently destructive T20 batsman.
Finch has not looked his usual fearless self against the white ball since his debut Test series. Of course, I have no window into Finch’s mind and he may just have lost form, as all cricketers do from time to time. But it does seem coincidental that ever since that Test series Finch has appeared far more cautious with the blade in limited overs cricket and has been more vulnerable as a result.
With Australia’s ODI batting lineup in a dire state, they desperately need Finch to regain his mojo in time for the World Cup in June. It will be fascinating to see how he balances those white ball responsibilities with up to six Test matches over the next two months.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Howzit Ronan , yes clearly imo Finch is battling to readjust between formats but he is not alone . The only players who seem to have consistently nailed it are the megastar batsmen such as Virat Kohli , Steve Smith , Joe Root , Kane Williamson and previously AB De Villiers . I may just add Faf Du Plessis to that list and apologies to those I have missed . They seamlessly readjust to the different challenges each format brings . The next level of player the likes of Aaron Finch and Quinten De Kock who also comes to mind both massively talented seem to be struggling a bit . These days we hear players and coaches talking about ..." If it's in your arc hit it " What about patiently builing an innings . And yes , an innings can also be built in T20 .
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Fell short of the ton - - good game though. Siddle bowled really well and got the figures. As the commentators indicated - even Burns and Handscomb - no player has looked completely at ease - a lot of playing and missing and shots in the air. The pitch has slightly tennis ball bounce at one end. Yesterday more overcast and more swing - today clear skies and much warmer and quite windy now. Vics now have the challenge to try to get off to a good start (just not do anything silly - plenty of time left).
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Siddle strikes again, another clean bowled (Pierson letting one go that cut back and took top of off, after he'd edged to just short of slip the ball before, one going away and one coming back in). Nice stuff.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Burns did well. Just now Siddle who has been the pick of the bowlers for the Vics finally got his reward, 2 in 3 balls (LBW and clean bowled......nice 'bowlers' wickets with top 6 batters).
Rellum
Roar Guru
I logged in to see him get a 100 and he got out as I was logging in. He made difficult conditions look easy. Pattenson is looking very good right now. Getting it too seam away with pace and bounce. He is probably bowling a bit short though.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Joe Burns is making the Gabba wicket look pretty good, against an attack of Tremain, Pattinson, Boland and Siddle no less. Poor Joe Burns.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Starc and the rest need to get fitter.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Starc breaks down almost every year, he needs to just pick one format i think.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
Good sporting pitches in Rounds 1-3 in the shield and green carpets in the crucial rounds 4 and 5 !! What a contrast Good knocks by Patterson and Handscomb .. nothing else at all. Looking forward now to the remaining 3 innings of all 3 matches Just thinking what happens if MMarsh or Head get less than 20 runs in the respective matches and Handscomb and Harris get big scores in second innings.. will MMarsh/Head be then dropped and both the Vics accomodated ?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Warner is very much in that elite group.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
So...what are the other scores? They would be the ones worth mentioning.
Ozibatla
Guest
Generally speaking our 1st class wickets have life in them. This is a good thing. I mean we can give our up and comers a false impression that making runs on roads is what its all about but with T20 cricket favouring such aggressive (if not poor) techniques, then we are not really going to progress out of this slumber of an inability to produce a swathe of quality, consistent 1st class batsmen. Bring on the bowler friendly wickets I say. For too long, batsmen have had it in their favour.
Simoc
Guest
I liked Finchs test batting. That is what opening in tests is all about. Seeing off the new ball. Taking the runs but not forcing the issue. Let the ball go through to the keeper until you're in (20+). So you need to put away all crossbat shots. Warner is different as was Shewag. Talking about fearless batting, it is hard to bat like Shewag (and Lynn) because you are going to fail and get called reckless, irresponsible etc so you need to have the selectors onside. Shewag hit down the line mostly which is a lot safer. The Indian batsman that I have seen all have outstanding technique which makes them adaptable. Finch was talking nonsense when talking about Maxwell recently. Waugh when a selector said Maxwell probably should give away his reverse sweep until well established. Maxwells reply was he isn't going to change the way he bats. He doesn't need to do much wrong to get dropped despite being the most talented all round player around (after Kohli). He is capable of scoring many more runs but they are reluctant to give him the opportunities in tests.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Patterson seems to be always get a going after selection door is closed, polar opposite of M Marsh
Matt H
Roar Guru
Joe Burns is having a blinder a week too late (not that I think he's really been in the picture lately despite his record).
The Bush
Roar Guru
Burns and Khawaja seem to be doing alright. I see poor old Renshaw's run of poor form continues. Patterson has scored a fifty for NSW, but it's been slow going, but he's still there.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
The 3 toss winners today chose to bowl - what does that tell you about the state of shield cricket (and our pitches) ?
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
Ya Gabba looks green outside,but did not notice that much of swing.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
What about other 2? Tassie is 7 down in 150 runs(paine is gone for 16), NSW 4 down in 90!! Seems all the pacers having fun!
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
The Brissie wicket looks green.