‘Bone was visible’: Aaron Finch’s bravery revealed after horrific injury

Extraordinary details have emerged of the toughness displayed by Aaron Finch to pad up again in Perth and now prepare himself for the defining Test match of his career at a packed MCG.

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Aaron Finch will lead Australia’s batting charge in the Boxing Day Test a week after he had bone protruding through his finger.

Extraordinary details have emerged of the toughness displayed by the Victorian opener to pad up again in Perth and now prepare himself for the defining Test match of his career at a packed MCG.

It’s understood that the dark wound which immediately opened up on his right index finger upon being struck by Indian paceman Mohammed Shami was so deep that bone was visible.

The shocking discovery led medicos to fear Finch had suffered a compound fracture as the finger swelled up and he was rushed from the field and straight to hospital.

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X-rays cleared him of a fracture and coach Justin Langer has declared Finch is in no doubt for a dream maiden Boxing Day Test in front of friends, family and 90,000 Victorians, fresh from a confidence-boosting 50 in Perth.

However, the positive diagnosis and the fact Finch only lasted one ball when he came back from being retired hurt on day four, belied the mental and physical toughness it took for the boy from the bush to put himself back out in the line of fire.

There was plenty of pre-Perth focus on Tim Paine’s grit and grunt after repeated finger injuries, but Finch’s digit has been absolutely brutalised this summer.

During a vicious centre-wicket session leading into his first one-dayer as Australian captain back in November, Finch threw his bat in agony as he was struck by Mitchell Starc.

Starc got him again with a nasty blow leading into his first Test on home soil in Adelaide.

The trauma was exposed by Shami’s roaring short ball but medical staff were able to patch Finch up again.

Finch keels over after the knock. Picture: AFP

Finch’s old-fashioned hardiness can be used as a further inspiration by an Australian side that’s learning how to play hard cricket the right way.

An example has been set by Paine and Finch this summer that has liberated the Australian dressing room, according to fast bowler Mitchell Starc.

“Finchy said it in the one-dayers earlier in the summer that the tables would turn eventually with how hard we were working and learning,” said Starc.

“I think this week was a good one for the whole group just to see that we are continuing to learn and get better each day.

“It was a little bit of reward for a lot of people — support staff and players.

“A lot has been built up the last few days (about the combativeness between Australia and India) but I think Tim’s led that perfectly as captain.

“He’s led from the front. He’s shown that you can play competitive cricket in the right spirit and still have a bit of banter out there as well.”

Aaron Finch was forced from the field on day three. Picture: Getty

The surest sign that Finch is in no doubt for the Boxing Day Test is the fact selectors declined to add a shadow top order batsman to the 13-man squad confirmed for the remainder of the series.

Peter Handscomb remains firmly in the gun and there’s a feeling that he is likely to be axed for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

Australia will be wary of a notoriously flat MCG pitch and of burning out the quicks after two Test matches in quick succession and still more than half of the Test summer to come.

Finch returned on day four. Picture: AAP

Handscomb’s technique has been slammed by ex-players and selectors may feel they can’t afford to let him learn on the run.

The Victorian was dumped in similar circumstances last summer when he was cut adrift for Marsh after two Ashes Tests — both won by Australia.

Starc said the side was conscious at not getting too far ahead of itself after one win.

“It’s only one-all,” he said.

“But I think we do take a fair bit into Boxing Day.”

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Originally published as ‘Bone was visible’: Aaron Finch’s bravery revealed after horrific injury