Aaron Finch, Australia’s ODI revival means World Cup places will be hard earned

Six straight wins, Aaron Finch firing, David Warner and Steve Smith free to play: after years of desperately trying to fix a losing side, Australia’s selectors suddenly have a fresh problem to solve.

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Aaron Finch insists even his blistering return to form doesn’t lift the pressure on him entirely. The same, however, cannot be said for selectors tasked with deciding on a final 15 for Australia’s World Cup defence.

Finch fell 10 runs shy of becoming the first Australian to post three ODI centuries in a row in Abu Dhabi this week. And is averaging in the upper 90s in a run of six straight victories for a side that had struggled for results the previous two years.

As little as a month ago, however, his place in the side was up for debate.

Aaron Finch has been in electrifying form against Pakistan in the UAE. Picture: AFP

He was labelled “mentally shot” by former selector Mark Waugh amid a run of 21 consecutive white-ball innings for Australia without reaching 50. Test great Ian Chappell branded Finch’s form slump a ‘headache’.

“It never takes the pressure off,” Finch said of his recent performances, “because you’re always wanting to lead from the front in every game and have that match-winning contribution.”

The critics have now fallen silent.

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Finch always had credit in the bank for his leadership qualities, credited with fostering an atmosphere of cohesion in trying circumstances since he took on the captaincy last year. Now he has led the team to back-to-back series wins, posting scores of 116, 153no and 90 as Australian took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the UAE against Pakistan.

His personal revival has gone in step with the team’s. Old clichés about Australia peaking at the right time, coming good for the big show, have been dusted off and given a welcome airing as the World Cup looms large.

Selection options that looked sparse are now abundant. The debate not about who to pick, but rather who to leave out.

“It is bloody hard … there’s going to be some very unlucky blokes out there,” Finch admitted.

“When the side is playing so well, it’s going to be difficult.”

While the losses were mounting, supporters and selectors alike clung to the hope that the return of Steve Smith and David Warner would act as panacea.

Now there is a credible strain of logic — though not one the selectors appear convinced of yet — that Smith is not certain of a place in the World Cup XI.

Such an unthinkable conversation has been made possible by the form of those men whose own prospects were deemed questionable as recently as last month.

Usman Khawaja has established himself as an effective ODI opener for Australia. Picture: AP

Usman Khawaja was brought in to the set up largely by virtue of Smith and Warner’s absence. After a difficult home summer, however, two three figure scores and a 90 in the three victories against India, and an assurance and pace to his scoring firmed him up as a worthy opener.

Three in to two doesn’t go, of course. But whether Khawaja or Finch go to first drop to accommodate Warner’s return, or Finch moves further down to act as a power hitter, it is the kind of question that coach Justin Langer will be happy to be faced with.

Adam Zampa provides economy and a genuine wicket threat. Picture: AP

Peter Handscomb has been a busy, productive presence in the recent run of victories. Glenn Maxwell’s 71 off 55 in Abu Dhabi was typically useful and served to underline the value of a player who can float around the order and be called on to maintain or accelerate the run rate as required.

Shaun Marsh has been Australia’s stand out ODI batsmen for some time. But even his place is uncertain now.

Two dead rubbers against Pakistan will allow Langer room to seek answers to some selection questions. The most pressing concerns Marcus Stoinis. He contributed runs in India but was an uncharacteristically slow starter on occasion, absorbing dot balls when his brief is to open the shoulders.

His bowling qualities, and the lack of another compelling pace bowling all-rounder mean he is paramount to the balance of the side. If he can find his rhythm in Dubai the optimism around the team will only be enhanced

David Warner was in typically brutal form on his return to the IPL. Picture: AFP

The specialist bowling stocks have always appeared healthy. Especially in the shape of Pat Cummins. Rested for the first two matches in UAE, he returned to blow Pakistan’s top order away in a fashion that has become familiar, a routine form of excellence.

With Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and now Jhye Richarson all with injury concerns the pace attack for England is at present undecided, but at the same time no cause for concern. Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Bherendorff, both likely to be given opportunity to impress in what is left of the Pakistan series, offer depth.

Adam Zampa has endured a vulnerable existence in Australia’s first XI. But his economy as much as his 11 wickets against India underlined his most assured period in national colours.

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His ruthless cleaning up of the Pakistan tail in the series deciding match — his 4-43 the best return by any leg-spinner for Australia since Stuart MacGill against the same opposition at the MCG almost two decades ago — spoke of a player now feeling truly at home.

With the first deadline for submitting a World Cup squad still four weeks away there is time for form and preferences to change.

Smith’s performances in the IPL will decide his World Cup fate. Intriguingly, his and Warner’s franchises face off at the same time as the fourth ODI is played in the Middle East this weekend.

Selectors will need to have a view of both, though you suspect the eye will be drawn more keenly to Hyderabad.