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.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Maybe it's time for Nathan Lyon to use his savvy as a leader. Bowlers are always the best tacticians. They actually think.
Brasstax
Guest
I cannot understand how Smith has not been banned from captaincy for life. It is one thing to be ignorant of plans to cheat in the dressing room and it is totally another thing to be aware of it but having neither the will nor the guts to step in and put a stop to it. The first denotes complicity and the second and in my opinion worse reason indicates cowardice and such a person can and should never be allowed anywhere near leadership position.
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
Get M Marsh back in the team. Excellent One Day record, popular with the team, has captaincy experience. Done.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
I think the silver hammer is Maxwell's, you might ask him where it is (apologies to Lennon/McCartney).
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Did Tim Paine officially retire from ODIs after the England series last year or is he still technically available? Desperate times call for desperate measures, and like the scenario immediately following sandpaper-gate, this team is completely directionless - and the only player to have brought any semblance of direction to Australian cricket over the past 12 months is Paine. His tactical captaincy has been great and his leadership on and off the field has been exceptional. And add to that, the fact is, he's by far the best gloveman in the country. Obviously, yes, we lose a lot in the batting department. As far as limited overs internationals are concerned, he's basically either an opener or a no.9. But what Paine brings both as wicketkeeper and a leader more than offsets his shortcomings with the blade, at least for me. If he's still in the mix, he'd be my pick.
Barney
Roar Rookie
I know you’re not the sharpest tool, but even a dope like you should realise I was referring to the red ball summer.
JayG
Roar Rookie
Sachin Tendulkar had the same issue. Form tanked when he became captain and he was a poor captain to boot.
Tanmoy K
Guest
If not Maxwell, what about Shaun Marsh as alternative Captain?
PeteB
Guest
Fortune favours the brave. Dump Finch now and explore other options. The only thing certain at the moment is that Finch will fail. Try something else, anything else, at least that will have better odds of success.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I was referring to Finch not Marsh.
Paul
Roar Guru
Marsh's recent record in ODIs would suggest he doesn't need carrying Cadfael. Your points about Maxwell are fair, though I wonder about stepping up from a domestic T20 side to captaining an international 50 over team that's struggling. I for one don't think he can do that job AND continue to play at a high level, which is what Australia needs right now. I rather see Maxwell focus on his game and allow others to lead the side, with lots of input from him and others.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I'm not a Maxwell fan and never have been but for the white ball game he has the experience, runs on the board and has captained hos BBL side. Much better to have a player in the ream than one who has to be carried.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I don't know if you have noticed but Maxi has been in this side for a long time.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Finch’s form slump coincided almost exactly with his captaincy appointment. Interestingly when none other than a certain AB de Villiers was appointed captain of South Africa he also experienced a slump. As a result he voluntarily relinquished the captaincy to his former High School classmate Faf Du Plessis who saw his batting average increase with the captaincy responsibilities. Some thrive others don’t with leadership roles. Could Finch be Australia’s ABDV.
Jock McSprock
Roar Rookie
Finch is a very mediocre captain in my view, shared by many Renegades supporters. Certainly nowhere good enough for him to be retained when (1) the team is losing and (2) he is woefully out of form.
anon
Roar Pro
Are we serious about winning or not? Playing Finch as opener costs us about 25 runs per game over the past 6 months. Are you field settings worth 25 runs per game? Of course not. Maybe 5 or 10 runs if he's the greatest tactical mind to have ever played the game, but Maxi or Cummins have been around a long time and know how to set fields. If we bring Smith and Warner back and keep Finch, 3 of our 6 batsmen will have almost zero form going into a World Cup. Half our team. Back someone in as captain and see if they sink or swim. Make a bloody decision for once. Pretend Finch was never born or quit cricket last year because of injury. Who would be captain? Someone would have to be. Pick the best players available. Carey shouldn't even be in the squad let alone vice captain. He's capable, but both Wade and Handscomb are much better batsmen and can keep. That's not a huge issue anyway. Finch does not deserve a spot. You don't use World Cups to get a good bloke into form. In fact you don't use any series. That's what domestic cricket is for.
Gurlivleen Grewal
Roar Pro
I think what Langer is doing by persisting with Finch is the best course of action. He has a very good record to back it up and he has had form slumps before and has gotten back from them. The present one has been compounded by the innate stupidity of picking him as an opener in tests. Brettig's article is a very good read on this - http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26131998/aaron-finch-needs-break-not-sack
The Bush
Roar Guru
Cause he’s out of form? You’re kidding, I hadn’t noticed.
JamesH
Roar Guru
If Smith returns and Carey is still keeping, Handscomb has to be squeezed out (as does Khawaja, unless he opens with Warner instead of Finch). None of Maxwell, Stoinis or S Marsh will be dropped. That's why Pete's not a lock. Personally I'd prefer that Smith just focused on his Ashes prep, in which case Handscomb is in the side.
JamesH
Roar Guru
You keep saying this, so I'll keep replying: in the 12 months prior to his form trough Finch was going at an ODI strike rate of 95, which is exceptional (and better than Kohli). In the same period in T20Is he also produced innings of 42 off 30, 36* off 14, 84 off 41, 68* off 33, 172 off 76 and 47 off 27, to go with his eye-watering career T20I strike rate of 156 (52 matches). He's plodding now because he's out of form but when he's on song, Finch is clearly an explosive batsman.