Australia could face a captaincy conundrum with Aaron Finch set for scans on an injured upper leg ahead of the second Twenty20 at the SCG.
Finch battled a hip and glute problem in Friday night’s series-opening loss to India at Manuka Oval, after being hurt while in the field.
He still opened in Australia’s chase but appeared in some discomfort, and at one stage required attention from medical staff in his 35 off 26 balls.
“It was a bit of a hip or glute (problem),” Finch said.
“We’ll wait and see after the game. It progressively got worse during the game. I am sure I will get a scan tomorrow and see how we go.”
If Finch is out, selectors will have to mull over a serious decision when it comes to his replacement as captain.
(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Only one other man in Australia’s squad has captained the country in any format, and that is Steve Smith.
However, while the former skipper is eligible to return to the captaincy, he has not been given any formal leadership position in a team since the ball-tampering saga.
Regular vice-captain Pat Cummins is being rested for the Twenty20 series, while Matthew Wade had that title on Friday night.
Alex Carey has previously been a vice-captain alongside Cummins, but was not selected on Friday. There is, however, every chance he could open if Finch is out.
Josh Hazlewood could be another alternative, having once held a vice-captaincy role back in the 2018-19 summer.
Glenn Maxwell and even Moises Henriques would be the possible options, with experience captaining at Big Bash level.
Meanwhile, India will be without Ravindra Jadeja for the rest of the T20 series, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming in a statement that the all-rounder had sustained a concussion “when hit on the left side of his forehead in the final over of India’s innings.”
“Jadeja remains under observation and will be taken for further scans if required based on the assessment on Saturday morning. He will not take any further part in the ongoing T20I series,” the statement added.
Shardul Thakur will replace Jadeja for the two remaining games.
Australia, though, continued to have questions over concussion substitutes following the loss in Canberra.
India subbed out Jadeja after he top-edged a Mitchell Starc ball into his helmet late in his unbeaten 44 from just 23 balls.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
The spinning all-rounder was already limping with a hamstring injury, but the concussion saw him replaced by leggie Yuzvendra Chahal. Chalal then went on to take 3-25, including the key scalps of Finch and Steve Smith and claimed man-of-the-match honours.
Australia’s coach Justin Langer clashed with match referee and former Test teammate David Boon when the replacement player was explained.
While it had initially been thought the question was over Jadeja’s initial fitness, Australia’s real issue was whether Chalal was a like-for-like player.
While both Jadeja and he bowl spin, Australia’s all-rounder Henriques pointed out Chalal would have batted at around number 11 if he was in India’s side originally.
“There’s no doubt he got a knock on the head from my point of view,” Henriques said.
“Whether it was a like-for-like replacement – that’s the question we’d like to see.
“One (Jadeja) is an all-rounder and a gun fielder, and the other is an out-and-out bowler who bats 11.”
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Doubt it would affect his batting aversely. Having said that, he is now 31 and a half, and while he is still in his prime, we do have to accept that he will start to decline sooner or later. When, who knows ... so if he was made captain again at 32, and the last 5 or 6 years of his career he only averaged 47, then we would need to read between the lines.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I haven’t look at the stats but just my impression. His focus seems to be off the chart, if you captain you can’t just focus on your batting. If they gave it to him and his batting stated to fail, would they take it off of him or do you think he step back?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I dont know about ODIs and glorified continuous cricket that is t20 but his average in tests while captain over more than 4 years was about 71. Definitely don't let him captain again if he can boost such an average even further ...
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Think smiths batting has been better without that pressure, can just focus on batting. Also if he did captain again ever countries media they playing would hammer him, possibly like painting a target on him.
Anush
Roar Rookie
smith should be the captain in my opinion.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Wade, obviously, he's vc and a Shield winning captain.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Skip playing it safe & get some experience into the future leaders, give it to Carey.
AREH
Roar Guru
Yep probably add Lynn to that group, too
Tempo
Roar Rookie
I didn’t say he’s my first choice, he’s the selectors first choice.
matth
Roar Guru
Wade will probably captain but he’s really a very average cricketer. Give it to Moises. He’s captained in the BBL.
matth
Roar Guru
It’s disappointing that Short’s position will likely be saved by Finch’s injury. We given him enough chances now to realize he’s not up to international standard.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
For me it’s very simple. Glenn Maxwell the stand-in Captain.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Is Smith a candidate? Or is he not in the one day team?
maverick
Roar Rookie
He is bog average,it's astonishing to think he has played so much international cricket with such mediocrity.
Chanon
Guest
If Finch is injured for next T20 l hope selectors give captaincy duties to Maxwell & l also hope he decides to open batting, l’m sure the captaincy will bring the best out of Maxwell which he would relish.
John Timothy
Guest
I don't know how Wade and Carey for into the same XI. Look at their batting averages. I'm sick of watching Wade's batting technique. Did you watch him trying to play the sweep shot against the very first ball he faced? - Awful. Carey is a nervous starter and a slow runner between the wickets. You can't win T20I series, WC tournaments with these bits and pieces players. Need Buttler, Bairstow kinda dynamic wk batsmen.
John Timothy
Guest
Short, Stoinis, Wade, Abbott - BBL Heroes only! Obviously, there's no better player in Australia than Khawaja to replace Warner. Once again it shows the lack of international quality batsmen in Australia. On the other hand, India have a lot of batting talents in the squad let alone their domestic circuit.
AREH
Roar Guru
Just fear that Short is below International standard, regardless of his domestic history in BBL and OD comps. Still think you need players that can handle bowlers at the top level, and think any of Head, Labuschagne or Khawaja would be wiser selections.
Brian
Guest
Geez I never realised Wade is 33 y.o and his record is Tests 32 Games Average 31.30 ODI 94 Games Ave 25.75 S/R 82.11 T20 31 Games Ave 17 S/R 112.01 how on earth is he playing international cricket never mind as vice captain
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
carey will captain