Aaron Finch is the Brearley-esque answer to Australia’s problems B

Aaron Finch has an impeccably authoritative on-field air Picture: Getty Images

Aaron Finch for Test captain. He’s the best leader in world cricket. He’s another Mike Brearley for his mastery of men. He’s a more dangerous batsman than Brearley ever was. His cricketing brain, cunning and intuition is second to none. He’s unfailingly respectful and universally respected. Bat him at five, he come off often enough. Alex Carey gets the gloves, bats seven, deputy skipper. Tim Paine gets thanked for his services and receives a generous round of applause.

Stellar debates that arise now and then: who for PM? Who for the NSW Origin number seven jersey? Who for the Australian Test captaincy? Finch for me. Put him in charge for the South Africa tour and more importantly, the first Ashes Test in November. Paine has done a stellar job as architect of the rebuild from the ruins of Cape Town. But his glove work has diminished.

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So, too, his authority. His errors against India were calamitous. Carey’s glove work is no worse than Paine’s. His batting is better. He will make Test hundreds, be sure of that. Already not far from making the top order on the strength of his willow work alone. Come the Ashes, the next great crusade, which is one worth targeting from now like Olympians are readying for Tokyo, I see a lot more upside in Carey than Paine as custodian and fifth-drop.

Which means we need a new captain. I’d go the wildcard option. Finch. Australia’s T20 and ODI captain. As a batsman, he’s the biggest gamble. As a skipper, he’s a sure-fire winner. I know, I know, I know.

I know Finch’s Melbourne Renegades are stone motherless in the BBL. I know he’s barely scored a run in the domestic T20 competition. I know he’s just been dumped by his IPL franchise. I know he probably hasn’t seen a red ball for as long as he can remember. I know he’s not even in the team. But he can play, that’s understood.

He’s Australia’s T20 and ODI opener: he knows his hills from his hollows. The cricketing brain is just absolutely brilliant. His manner is perfect: hard but decidedly fair. He has an impeccably authoritative on-field air. He’s accustomed to the off-field responsibilities that come with the role. The way he relates to players is unrivalled. His decision-making is clear and concise and attacking and invariably spit on.

Shane Warne says the two best captains in world cricket right now are Finch and Eoin Morgan. England doesn’t need a fresh Test skipper. Joe Root’s a beaut. But Australia needs a shift after losing an unlosable series to India.

The captaincy and the number five berth are two separate issues. Yet they can be solved in one roll of the dice. Finch. It might be different if there was an heir apparent to the captaincy in the XI. But there’s not. Pat Cummins is a no. Travis Head or Marnus Labuschagne? We’re clutching at straws there.

Steve Smith’s ship has probably sailed, although I think he’d do well in a second coming. I just believe Finch has everything required: maturity, smarts, respect, loads of international experience for Australia in charge. I’d back him to make lower-order Test runs at regular enough intervals. Carey at number seven bolsters the line-up anyway. And if Australia faced a fourth-innings run chase that required some hurry-up, or if there was a rush to push the game forward, you could move him up to open with Dave Warner and whammo, your T20 opening combo can let rip.

At the very least, Finch would no less reliable than incumbent Mathew Wade … while giving Australia its best possible captain. If Finch was a complete disaster as a batsman – I doubt it – but if he went on a Greg Chappell-like tear of consecutive ducks and the team kept losing, by then Carey would have played enough Tests to take over. He has long-term skipper written all over him.

If fringe players can earn selection because of fielding skills or their impact on dressing-room morale, et cetera – why can’t the sheer excellence of one’s captaincy be contemplated when there’s a shortage of accomplished leaders? Mike Brearley was a hugely successful England Test captain – with a batting average of 23. He was cut some slack because he got results.

I’d back Finch to do that. Rodney Hogg once described Brearley as having “a degree in people.” I think Finch has a similar quality to him. a Brearley-esque level of distinction that makes him worthy of leading Australia in all three formats for the next couple of years.

My Test team: Dave Warner, Will Pucovski, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Aaron Finch (c), Cam Green, Alex Carey (vc), Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Riley Meredith, Josh Hazlewood.