Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Aaron Finch believes makeshift approach will work for Nathan McSweeney
Aaron Finch knows more than most about being thrust into open against India but here’s why he’s backing Nathan McSweeney to shine.
In the wake of Australia’s ball-tampering scandal, Aaron Finch was parachuted in to open in Test cricket on the back of his white-ball success despite batting in the middle order for Victoria in Shield cricket.
Finch battled in his five Tests averaging 27.8 with two 50s before being dropped but says promoting McSweeney is the right call by selectors.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I think McSweeney will go very well, he’s got the technique he’s got the game suited for the top of the order,” Finch told The West Australian.
“It’s slightly different to when I got the call up I was batting middle order for Victoria but top of the order for the white-ball stuff.
“He’s been in inside the first 10 overs so often in his Shield career so far, you can just tell when somebody’s got the temperament for the longer format he’s very organised and got the patience and he’ll do really well I think it’s a really good selection from Australia.”
Catch every ball of the summer of cricket live and free on Seven and on stream at 7Plus Sport.
While much of the build-up to this summer has been focused on solving Australia’s opening problem there are questions lingering over much of Australia’s top order with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne failing to fire in recent Test summers while Travis Head and Mitch Marsh are both coming off paternity leave.
“I think over the last couple of years both Steve and Marnus would have liked more runs, obviously Smith moving to open the batting and now coming back to his favoured No.4 is a really good thing for Australia,” Finch said.
“I think it’s a real big series for Marnus actually, it just hasn’t flowed for him as well in the last probably 12 or 18 months than what it did in his first 40 Test matches.
“He’ll have a real point to prove no doubt and it obviously is a challenge against what is a really good Indian attack.
“I’m not too concerned over Marsh and Travis I think the only thing with Mitch will be his bowling and the amount of work he’s been able to put in at training, I think that will be a really important part of Australia’s success.”
Finch believes selectors may have missed a trick by not allowing Labuschagne and others to have a hit at Optus during their ODI against Pakistan in Perth which saw a b-string line-up thrashed by eight wickets.
“I think the batters would have loved to have played that game, obviously all the planning is done quite a long way out so all the bowlers no doubt will have benefitted from the reduced travel load.
“For someone like Marnus, it would have been a good opportunity to get out there and play but at the same time, those are conversations happening behind the scenes.”
India has their own problems coming off a home series defeat to New Zealand and Finch believes Australia must not waste the opportunity to open up some early scars in Perth.
Catch every ball of the summer of cricket live and free on Seven and on stream at 7Plus Sport.
“It’s a great opportunity to get on the board, we know how good India are when they’re leading from the front,” he said.
“For Australia top order runs are going to such a premium this series if you look at both attacks, whichever top order does the most damage will be a big part of how this series turns out.
“Teams that can cash in when they get started and that’s probably been a criticism of Australia in recent times, guys haven’t really gone on to make those big hundreds that we’ve become used to in years past.”
With the two best Test attacks in the world and batters struggling with some form Finch believes it could be a wicket-keeping battle that decides the series.
“I think the contest between Rishabh Pant and Alex Carey, with the way they both play they’re both really aggressive role,” he said.
“If the series goes the way I think, which will be fast bowling having a real big say these are the two guys that can change the momentum.”
“You know when Rishabh comes in it’s all attack and he’ll try to put you on the back foot as much as possible and Alex plays a really similar role, the winner of that battle will go a long way to deciding the series.”
Finch will be part of Seven’s commentary team for The West Test which will be broadcast live on Seven and for the first time streamed free on 7Plus Sport.
