Aaron Finch may have found the new role which can get him back into top form for the T20 World Cup after helping guide Australia to victory over the West Indies on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night.
The old firm of Finch and Matthew Wade rescued the innings after a mini middle-order collapse as the hosts chased down the victory target of 146 in a nail-biting finish to their warm-up game for the tournament which starts on home soil later this month.
The Windies were their own worst enemy in the final over of the match, spilling two easy catches in the oufield.
David Warner returned to the top of the order after he was rested for the three-match series in India to open the innings with in-form all-rounder Cameron Green with Finch dropping to four to also accommodate Mitchell Marsh in his comeback from a minor ankle problem.
Warner (14) and Marsh (three) fell cheaply and when Green (14) was followed back to the Metricon Stadium sheds by Glenn Maxwell and Tim David after they each failed to score, the Aussies had lost 3-2 to slump to 5-58 after eight overs.
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Finch, who has stepped down from the ODI side due to a string of low scores, has had his position at the top of the order in the T20 team questioned following Green’s blistering form in India.
Green has not been named in the World Cup 15-man squad but could be a late inclusion if all-rounder Marcus Stoinis fails to prove his fitness due to a recent side strain.
Finch and Wade combined for a partnership of 69 off 56 deliveries as Australia took out the first of the two-match series with one ball and three wickets to spare.
“He’s hit the gaps all night, hasn’t tried to overhit the ball,” Australian cricket great Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “A real important inning from Aaron Finch, a real confidence booster in the lead-up to the World Cup.”
Finch holed out at mid-on for 58 off 53 in the 18th over before finishing specialist Wade (39 not out off 29), with help from Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, polished off the remaining 19 runs.
Wade should have been out with Australia needing seven off five but was dropped in the deep by Raymon Riefer. Inexplicably, Kyle Mayers dropped another skier off Sheldon Cottrell two balls later with the result in the balance.
Australia’s bowlers fought back after a loose start to restrict the West Indies to a competitive 9-145.
They won the toss and sent the West Indies in to bat with the visitors starting their innings in style. Mayers was in fine form early and took the game to the bowlers with an array of exquisite strokes.
Mayers played one shot of immense class when he rocked onto the back foot and punched a Green delivery high over the cover boundary.
A square drive off Josh Hazlewood rocketed across the turf to the point boundary fence to showcase the left-hander’s strength through the off side.
The West Indies were 1-47 after five overs and set for a total of 180-plus before spinners Adam Zampa and Maxwell stemmed the flow.
Australia’s three strike fast bowlers Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc then turned the screws.
The pressure told on Mayers (39 off 36 balls) when he succumbed to an ugly heave across the line to Cummins.
West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran was not happy to be adjudged lbw on review to a Mitchell Starc delivery which appeared to be headed down the leg-side, but the ball tracking technology deemed otherwise. Even Starc counted his lucky stars when the opposition’s best batter made his way back to the pavilion for just two runs.
Cummins (2-22 off four) and Hazlewood (3-35 off four) were the pick of Australia’s bowlers but a late cameo by West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith (27 off 17) boosted their total.
Starc and Warner both dropped relatively simple catches for the hosts.
The second match will be on Friday night at the Gabba.
HR
Roar Rookie
Hasn't been working here, you're right - for all that people deride Australian pitches as roads, there's usually a bit in them for the bowler, and that's been enough to mean that the maximum attack approach comes undone. He may well be very effective at the top of the order if he dials back a bit, or at 4 or 5 - it depends on whether they want Green and David batting next to each other I guess. It will be interesting to see who opens after Finch presumably retires at the end of the World Cup - having Green there, along with Marsh at 3 and Stoinis at 5/6 will be a reasonably handy trio of all-rounders.
ALL ABOUT BALLS
Roar Rookie
It does look like he has been told to go out and bash from ball one, was successful in India on flat tracks, but not working on Aussie pitches .might be better off at 4 or 5 and play his natural game.
HR
Roar Rookie
Green's bowling is certainly a cut above that of Marsh and Stoinis. He's a better fielder too, from what I've seen. He might need to calm down a bit with his batting though, unless he's been instructed to go hell-for-leather from ball one just to see how it goes.
HR
Roar Rookie
Smith. Finch for leadership though (not a comment on Smith's tenure, more a comment on Finch's quality in that role).
Republican
Guest
The Hit and Hope WC. Waste of space.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
…and the fielding? Smith or Finch?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you bat long enough, eventually you'll get a run. He simply should not be in the side. Clogging the top order, now clogging the middle order.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Gold coast is a much easier drive to see cricket in Brisbane compared to Canberra and Sidney. Canberra and the Coast are not comparable
Richie
Roar Rookie
Without looking I’d say Canberra gets more cricket then GC and it’s not on free to air.
Rellum
Roar Guru
England are not the Windies and Canberra rarely gets cricket so that is not comparable. The real reason is it is not on free to air so no one knows or cares
Rellum
Roar Guru
Aus are playing at the Gabba tomorrow. I had to look that up
Simoc
Guest
Finch was a walking wicket last year as well. He is the Mike Brearly of Australian cricket. Way past it but the selectors love him.
ALL ABOUT BALLS
Roar Rookie
Prefer Green but not in the side.They do want Marsh and Stoinis fit enough to bowl,Seems every-time they bowl they get injured.
HR
Roar Rookie
Agree on everything except Wade - the team needs his steel and his finishing ability in the middle order.
HR
Roar Rookie
If Finch works out at 4, as matth says it would be either Stoinis or Green - Stoinis has to be 100 percent if he's going to play. Green may regress to the mean, but his performance in India suggests it wouldn't be entirely bad if Stoinis can't play.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I got no email either
ALL ABOUT BALLS
Roar Rookie
Good call with Stoinis ,was great as an opener in BBL,i can live with that.
matth
Roar Guru
Nah, keep Wade where he is as our insurance policy.
matth
Roar Guru
Maybe better advertising. Because Channel 7 don't have the rights they don't advertise it. I'm a CA member and didn't see any advertising about it. I actually forgot it was on until about half way through the match.
matth
Roar Guru
Stoinis plays that role in the BBL, or Green if they decide to parachute him into the team