- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
When Australia tasted World Cup glory in 2015, Michael Clarke’s leadership was important without being pivotal.
Waiting in the wings, should form or injuries have overcome Clarke, was the tactically astute Shane Watson or the charismatic George Bailey. Similarly in 2007 and 2003, a hypothetical Ricky Ponting absence would have seen Mike Hussey or Adam Gilchrist take over respectively.
Capable replacements were on standby.
But in 2019, things are different. And the issue is not just a hypothetical – it’s very real. Aaron Finch’s well-documented form slump, which has seen him average 10.83 in international white ball cricket since October, has created a precarious situation on the eve of a World Cup campaign.
Without an able replacement, Justin Langer and the Australian selectors are desperate for Finch to sure-up his position.
Thankfully for them, eight ODIs in the next 24 days means there’s no shortage of games. And while Finch’s measured 37 in the second ODI against India has kept the wolves at bay momentarily, a continued lean trot will intensify the already significant pressure on his opener’s spot. Should that transpire, just who could lead Australia at the World Cup?
The obvious options, at least in the minds of Australian selectors, would be the current co vice-captains in Alex Carey and Josh Hazlewood. Neither of these choices, however, exude confidence.
Carey is an impressive character and reported natural leader, but a mere novice on the international stage with just 11 ODIs to his name. He is also no guarantee of being picked in the World Cup.
While he remains favourite to don the gloves in Australia’s opening game against Afghanistan on June 1, there’s a possibility the selectors could opt for Peter Handscomb behind the stumps, allowing them to pick an extra bowler.
The more experienced Hazlewood, on the other hand, has been injured for some time, and won’t play the current series against India, or against Pakistan (starting March 22). He, too, is no guaranteed selection given his long layoff but perhaps more importantly, as a bowler would struggle to lead a side in a World Cup campaign.
The strongest other option is perhaps Glenn Maxwell, who impressively led the Melbourne Stars during the latest BBL season. Former quick Mitchell Johnson has endorsed this move, saying Maxwell’s temperament and tactical nous would be the best fit for the current side.
It’s far from the most outrageous suggestion, but the fact is that Maxwell’s one-day captaincy CV is blank. Unlike Victorian teammate Handscomb who at least led Victoria to JLT success earlier in the summer, Maxwell would go into the campaign with no 50-over captaincy experience.
(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
So could Handscomb lead then? Could he be Finch’s potential replacement? Again, it’s a hail-Mary option. There’s every possibility Handscomb could be dropped when Steve Smith and David Warner return to the fold.
And to be clear, that pair won’t be leading the side either. Warner is banned from any leadership roles in future, while Smith can’t take charge until next year at the earliest.
The reason Langer and the Australian selectors are so keen for Finch to nail-down his position is two-fold. Naturally, they want the explosive opener to return to his best to give Australia a base from which to launch an innings.
More importantly, however, they recognise the admirable job he has done since taking over the captaincy from Tim Paine. After Australia was mauled 5-0 against England last winter, they’ve slowly clawed their way back to competitiveness under Finch.
While results have been poor (two wins in eight), Australia appear to have turned a corner. While six months ago they appeared a dishevelled unit destined for early departure at the World Cup, they now loom as the avoidable dark horse. Should they scrape into the semi-finals, no country would fancy facing a side with Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc and the returning Smith and Warner.
Finch is now a confident ODI leader, and is continually willing to learn according to Victoria and Melbourne Renegades coach Andrew McDonald. Under his captaincy, the ODI side have considerably stepped up its fielding, too.
“From the bits I’ve seen in T20s and now this ODI, the Aussies fielding has been outstanding,” Adam Gilchrist tweeted on the weekend. “Always the first signs of a disciplined team from my experience. Good long term signs regardless of short term results.”
So while Finch is skating on thin ice, it’s imperative he nails down his position in the XI. The leadership stocks are bare without him.