By David Warner withdrawing from Australia’s T20 series against India, the opener has inadvertently heaped more pressure on his long-time teammate Aaron Finch at the top of the order.
Finch retired from One Day Internationals earlier this month, after the veteran captain’s batting decline continued.
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Three failures against Zimbabwe, where the Australian captain was stuck on the crease to left-armer Richard Ngarava, and a further three against New Zealand’s quicks was enough to see Finch call it a day.
In his previous 10 ODIs, Finch had passed 50 once.
The decision to step away was made to help Australia find a suitable opener with next year’s ODI World Cup in India on the horizon.
Yet, the decision to step away has also shined a light on his immediate concerns at the top of the order.
Australia’s T20 World Cup defence on home soil gets underway next month.
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Finch is expected to open alongside Warner, but for the time being it looks like Australia is carrying a passenger at the top of the order.
Former teammate and ODI World Cup-winner Brad Hodge backed Finch to step up in next month’s T20 tournament, believing his mindset had been fixated solely on the home World Cup defence.
“I know Finchy, and I know him well personally, right, and I can tell you straight up that he’ll be on fire come time for the T20 World Cup,” Hodge told foxsports.com.au.
“When you’ve played this much cricket, and you have your eyes set on a huge trophy like that, you’re gearing up to that moment. So sort of what happens prior to that is irrelevant.
“I know we look in and we go ‘OK, well, the runs aren’t there,’ but your mind is already transfixed on this big event.
“And how many titles has he won, so Finchy’s a two-time World Cup winner, right? So his mind is surely set to be unbelievably ready to be a triple-winner and double-winning captaining World Cup player. “And I would be if I was in his shoes.
“If you’re worried about form against Zimbabwe, you might as well pick it up and throw it into the Yarra because it’s pointless. He’ll be ready and ready to go. First match.”
But should Finch struggle in India, and his new opening partner fire, it will leave Australia’s selectors in an awkward position.
DEBUTANT SET TO DAZZLE?
The sounds coming from Tim David’s bat in the nets in India said it all, the Singapore-born Australian hits a clean ball.
It is why he has come from the stars to be parachuted into Australia’s team on the eve of the World Cup.
David has been dominated T20 leagues around the world over the past 24 months.
He doesn’t bat in the top five, which is why his output remains modest, but what he does in the back-end of innings is truly match-turning.
It is why Ricky Ponting, who will mentor the batter during this year’s Big Bash season with the Hobart Hurricanes, has long called for David to be selected in Australia’s World Cup squad.
For Ponting, David can play the same role as his late mate Andrew Symonds did during Australia’s ODI World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007.
“It was only a couple of seasons ago he was struggling to get a game in the BBL and now he’s one of the more sought after T20 batsmen in the world,” Ponting told foxsports.com.au.
“I saw up close in person in the IPL this year, some of the impact he had on a few of those games (was devastating).
“In every tournament he’s played he’s continuing to get better and better, and I equate him to a bit like Andrew Symonds actually for the 2003 World Cup.
“I reckon if you get him in and give him a go, he’s one of those guys who could actually not just win you one or two games, he could actually win you a tournament, so that I’m sure they’re thinking about him.”
WATCHFUL EYE ON STAR ALL-ROUNDER
Finch isn’t the only World Cup-winner under pressure, with Marcus Stoinis’ role now coming under scrutiny too.
Stoinis could well open for Australia at next month’s World Cup should selectors make the brave decision to look past Finch.
It’s a role he has regularly played in the Big Bash and one that he has had success in.
Yet, for Australia, he has often found himself coming in late in matches.
Against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, Stoinis’ top score was 19 across four innings.
While ODI form is different to T20 form, it paints a picture.
Given the right-hander seldom bowls, he will be measured against the likes of Mitch Marsh and David.
David is the smoky of the lot and must prove himself on the world’s biggest stage, which starts against India, but the eye will be on Stoinis too.
WHAT WILL AUSSIE SAVIOUR’S ROLE BE IN 2022?
Matthew Wade was Australia’s great saviour at the T20 World Cup last year.
Warner was the player of the series while it was Marsh’s coming of age, but Wade played a series of knocks that should not be forgotten.
He was brilliant during the pool stages while his cameo against Pakistan saw Australia progress through to the World Cup final.
What will his role be in 2022?
A middle-order role looks likely, but if Finch was to be dropped Australia could well consider the wicketkeeper as an alternative alongside Stoinis.
AUSTRALIA’S STRENGTH SHOULD BE THEIR QUICKS
In Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, Australia have three world class quicks.
Hazlewood’s emergence over the past 16 months has been the biggest find of the lot.
The right-armer was a star during last year’s World Cup and it came at a time when the jury was still out over the Glenn McGrath clone.
While the Richardsons can swing the ball first-up, Australia’s settled fast bowling trio offers Finch a point of difference and a settled group.
T20 is often about confidence with bat and ball or in the field.
It is about knowing a plan and executing it.
While the Indian pitches will be different to the ones in Australia, whatever happens on the subcontinent, selectors can feel confident that the rock hard pitches will suit their attack.
It is, after all, why only two specialist spinners, as well as Glenn Maxwell’s off-breaks, have been selected.
