Late bloomer Finch wants to be like Hussey

Monday, 17 September 2018:

AARON FINCH of Australia plays a shot during game two of the One Day International series between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane, Australia.
AARON FINCH of Australia plays a shot during game two of the One Day International series between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane, Australia.


His role may be unclear but Aaron Finch is determined to follow the lead of fellow late bloomer Mike Hussey and stake a long-term Test claim in Australia's series against Pakistan.

At the age of 31, Finch finally gets a chance to don a baggy green after being included as one of five rookies in coach Justin Langer's 15-strong squad for the two-Test series in the UAE starting on October 7.

Finch admitted he had no idea whether he would open or play in the middle order if picked before Australia fly out for the UAE on Wednesday night.

But the big-hitting Victorian was adamant he wanted to cash in like Hussey and make the most of the Test chance he almost gave up on.

Western Australia's Hussey famously earned his first baggy green at 30, going on to amass more than 6000 runs from 79 Tests at 51.52.

"That's the plan. Hopefully if I get an opportunity I can take it (like Hussey) - that would be the ideal scenario," Finch said at Australia's training camp in Brisbane.

Eleven years after his first-class debut, Finch admitted he had almost given up on receiving the Test selectors' call.

"I thought it was not now or never but ...if it didn't happen now it was less likely to happen down the track," he said.

"It was a good call to get. I think my heart rate went through the roof."

Finch is a devastating opener in the shorter forms but the nuggety batsman has also been used with success by Victoria in the middle order in Sheffield Shield, averaging 41 over the past two seasons.

Finch has been in outstanding white ball form, easily the highest run-scorer in the recent T20 international tri-series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe with 306 runs at 76.50, including 172 off 76 balls.

He warmed up for the UAE tour by thrashing 598 runs at 147.25 for Surrey in the English T20 Blast.

Finch, who made his ODI debut for Australia five years ago, said he wouldn't curb his aggression as a Test opener.

But he admitted he may need to take a different approach if named in the middle order.

"If it's at the top it is about playing your natural game," he said.

"If it is in the middle then there will be times when you come in against a lot of spin and maybe the ball is reversing.

"It is about sitting down over the next week with the coach and captain and start nutting out some plans."

Finch is seen as a perfect foil for Matt Renshaw at the top of the order but the Victorian veteran believed Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head were also chances at opener.

"But I'd play anywhere. I would bat No.11 if I had to," Finch smiled.






AAP