Flying Aaron Finch locks in Test debut; Justin Langer says big Vic ‘deserves to have a baggy green’

HE was in the right form at the right time and with Test spots open Victorian Aaron Finch has come from a mile back, with thousands of white ball runs, to secure a baggy green cap.

AARON Finch and Travis Head will become Australia’s newest Test cricketers on Sunday after confirmation they will play in the opening clash against Pakistan.

Coach Justin Langer said he “couldn’t wait” to see Finch, 31, play Test cricket, having dominated the world in one-day and T20 matches for the past 12 months.

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Finch made a polished 54 in the tour game against Pakistan A, and Langer said it was confirmation he had what it took to wear a baggy green.

Head, 24, made an unbeaten 90 and will likely assume the place in the middle order left open by suspended captain Steve Smith.

“There was never any doubt over those two for me, I thought they were certainties to play,” Langer said.

“Aaron Finch — I can’t wait to see him play Test cricket.

“He’s been brilliant in white-ball cricket over the last few years, he’s got the temperament for international cricket (and) he’s one of the leaders of our group.

“Travis Head — his improvement over the last … six months is absolutely amazing. He’s starting to look like an AFL player, he’s really fit.

“He played brilliantly in the Australia A stuff, he’s ­really impressive and he des­erves to have a baggy green.”

Victorian coach Andrew McDonald, a former teammate and long-time friend of Finch, said his Test call-up was reward for being in form at the right time.

Test debutant Aaron Finch has dominated the world in one-day and T20 matches for the past 12 months.

“It’s great news — it’s one thing to get a baggy green but now it’s an opportunity for him to lock away that spot and become a five-year player in that team,” McDonald said.

“He’s worked his way through his career, had some ups and downs, but there is no bigger up than getting a baggy green.”

With concern lingering over the fitness of opener Matthew Renshaw, South ­African born Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne has shot into contention.

Michael Neser and Peter Siddle are fighting for the final pace spot, with spinners Nathan Lyon and Victorian Jon Holland set to play.

Cricketer Travis Head’s fitness “is absolutely amazing. He’s starting to look like an AFL player”.

Holland grabbed five wic­kets in the drawn four-day match in Dubai on Tuesday, sending a warning to Pakistan for the Test series.

Pakistan A, which had been facing an innings defeat, reached 7-261 in their second innings at the ICC Academy.

Holland, 31, followed Lyon’s eight wickets in the first innings with 5-79.

Lyon took 1-54 to finish with nine wickets in the match, but Holland, who played last of his two Tests in Sri Lanka in 2016 — took regular wickets.

Skipper Asad Shafiq (69), added 84 for the third wicket with Abid Ali, who followed a first-innings 85 with 52.

Iftikhar Ahmed made 45 and opener Shan Masood 41.

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