Mackenzie Harvey, Tom O’Connell back Aaron Finch to fire in T20 World Cup
Melbourne Stars young gun Tom O’Connell has backed under-fire Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch to find his best on the big stage as the World Cup edges closer.
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Melbourne Stars young gun Tom O’Connell has backed under-fire Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch to find his best on the big stage as the World Cup edges closer.
The T20 tournament is set to begin on Sunday with Sri Lanka hosting Namibia at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, while Australia will make its first appearance against New Zealand on October 22 at the SCG.
Finch has averaged 22.57 with the bat in T20 games since he announced his retirement from the one-day format.
O’Connell, who is a Geelong local like Finch, said the skipper’s best was dangerous in the short format despite a lack of form in the lead up to the competition.
“I think all good players find a way to show up in big games and ‘Finchy’ is one of the best,” he said.
“I’m absolutely expecting him to take the World Cup down and really dominate, he’s one of the best to play the game.”
Renegades batter Mackenzie Harvey said Finch would have the support of the country to bring home one last piece of silverware in the twilight of his career.
“You’ve always got to back your captain, or your top players in, no matter what sort of form they’re in, because you know he’s done it for such a long period of time,” he said.
“Cricket’s a weird game, you can go in an out of form after one innings, so I’d back him in 100 per cent to pull something special out.
“I think if you’re going against him then you’re not really a true Aussie fan.”
GMHBA Stadium is set to host six games in the first week of the tournament, with Sri Lanka, Namibia, the Netherlands and United Arab Emirates playing Group A matches at the venue.
O’Connell said he would be watching the T20 World Cup with envy as the competition begins on Sunday.
“We’ve got a T20 World Cup in our own backyard to get the summer going and that leads into Big Bash,” he said.
“You get to see the world’s best players right in front of you and you see how they go about it and you learn off those guys by watching them.
“Absolutely I want to be out there one day playing for Australia, that’s every Australian kid’s dream.”
Originally published as Mackenzie Harvey, Tom O’Connell back Aaron Finch to fire in T20 World Cup
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