Warner’s absence creates chances for top-order: Aaron Flinch
Aaron Finch and David Warner.-Collected
||Desk Report||
Australia captain Aaron Finch believed that David Warner's return to the ODI squad could be complex and that created the chances for the to-order players to seize the spot in his [Warner] absence.
Finch and Warner have been opening for Australia ODI squad since 2015 World Cup. But the former vice-captain's health and form are unknown due to the surgery as well as his year-long ban. So, the Aussie skipper declared that he and David Warner are no certainties to open at this year’s World Cup and urged his top-order players to seize the chance, source Cricket Australia.
"I think there's definitely a great opportunity for guys to come and really challenge for that (opening) spot," Finch told reporters in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
"We've seen 'Davey' (Warner) obviously have some elbow surgery recently, as well as Steve (Smith). So for that to be in the back of your mind as well, that if things don't go 100 per cent right with their rehab or they have some complications with it and they're not back in time. It's a huge opportunity for guys to step up and almost cement their place, for the next little while. It’s a huge opportunity for guys to step up and almost cement their place, for the next little while," he added.
The skipper pointed out that he or Warner might move down the order. "There are also things you can juggle around in one-day cricket… I've batted in the middle order a little bit over the last little while, Davey has done it the odd time. So whatever we feel is the right combination at the time – I don't think anything is out of the question," he said.
Australia lost their fourth-most prolific ODI opening partnership as Warner got a ban due to the ball-tempering scandal in the Cape Town. After that, Australia have struggled to find a stable top-order partnership, with four combinations used in 11 innings including Travis Head-Finch, Head-D'Arcy, Flinch-Lynn and now Alex Carey is Finch's most recent opening partner.
However, Australia will play eight ODIs before Warner is available for selection and further seven 50-over matches (two ODIs, three practice games) after the former vice-captain returns. The first of those matches starts on March 3 in Hyderabad.
