T20 World Cup: Aaron Finch’s shunned veterans reformat modern game

Has Australia bent T20 cricket to a game in its image by sheer force of will (and talent and fortune)?

David Warner was written off as an international cricketer before being named player of the World Cup. Picture: AFP

Has Australia bent T20 cricket to a game in its image by sheer force of will (and talent and fortune)?

By most measures this side had no right to be in the World Cup final, but once they arrived their presence was compelling.

Australia are a sum of their parts, they know how they play, showing little regard for the latest fashions in the newest format.

They were licensed by coach Justin Langer — whose damascene coaching moment suited a group of senior players who know their way around a tournament and what’s best for their game.

Kane Richardson, centre, leads the Australian celebrations before the squad flew home on a plane with Ashes-bound English players. Picture: Getty Images

“I suppose everyone that wins a World Cup says it’s hard to process and hard to put into words, but this is such a special group of people,” Langer said on Monday.

“There are some amazing cricketers here who haven’t had a chance to play together for different reasons. There’s so many close relationships. This is very special for everyone.”

The Australians front-loaded their bowling with the three Test seamers at the top of the innings.

They went hard and fast — the “Australian way”.

Taking the pace off the ball is a common mantra in T20. Most observers thought one of the three should make way for a Mitchell Swepson or Ashton Agar.

Early in the tournament they looked to be disadvantaged, if not impoverished, by having so many three-format players. The favourites, England, had only a few Test regulars, but the Australians boarded the plane with their Ashes opponents on Monday with a confidence that will do them no harm in the five-day format.

Imagine having to sit around contemplating your missed opportunities before boarding the plane with the champions.

Winning is — according to whiteboards and inspirational calendars — a habit, but it was not one this Australian squad was familiar with coming into the T20 World Cup.

Cast your mind back to the recent Indian Premier League tournament shortly before the World Cup. A tournament of stars. A ruthless testing ground where reputations are made and lost in the blockchains of data analysis assigned each deliver, match-up, weakness and moment.

Few among Aaron Finch’s mob were considered good enough to hold a place in their IPL teams. David Warner suffered the indignity of being removed from the captaincy, dropped and then told there wasn’t enough room for him to attend games with the squad.

Warner was crowned player of the World Cup a little over a week after articles questioned whether the 35-year-old’s days as an international player were over.

Player of the final Mitchell Marsh, left, celebrates the win with Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa, right. Picture: AFP

Matthew Wade told Langer before the cup that Warner would shoot out the lights. A good call, but the fact he needed to offer reassurance about one of the pioneering batsman in the format tells you about the tone of debate at that time.

The player of the final, Mitch Marsh, was the first to be dropped early in the World Cup, but his innings in the final looks as much a coming of age as anything Andrew Symonds did in 2003.

Finch couldn’t raise a paddle at the IPL auction and went unsold. He may not have had the greatest of tournaments but he scored — or didn’t — and got out of the way without bogging down the side at the top.

He called correctly in six out of seven tosses. Australia won this World Cup without once having to successfully defend a total – the most difficult of tasks in the UAE.

Finch, who has endured injury and laser surgery to fix his sight, was in a world of trouble at the start of this season but has shown he and Warner are similarly resilient. And talented.

Both have more than 12,000 runs in this format at an international and domestic level — and both do it at a strike rate of 140 or better.

Steve Smith couldn’t get a start in the back end of IPL and shouldn’t have got a start at the T20 World Cup for Australia, according to Shane Warne.

The consensus around the wicketkeeping role was essentially “anyone but Wade”, but the competitive Tasmanian was an enormous presence at the bottom of a long batting order. His 41no against the West Indies in the semi final was crucial. The knowledge that he and Marcus Stoinis were still in the sheds allowed Glenn Maxwell to bat with abandon.

The cohesion and love among this squad — which only came together at the last minute — was obvious.

Few among Aaron Finch’s team were considered good enough to hold a place in their IPL teams shortly before the World Cup. Picture: AFP

“What an amazing six weeks with this group of men. I love them to death,” Marsh said.

Stoinis was equally uninhibited. “This group of boys,” he said. “We actually love each other.

“It is beautiful.

“You won’t find bigger supporters of Mitch Marsh right here other than his family. We’re so proud of him.”

Winning helps, of course.

“The vibe around the group has been unbelievable,” Finch said.

“There’s a lot of time spent in each other’s rooms and the team room, chilling out at lunches, dinners and breakfast.

“JL has played a part in that and that’s a great reward for him as well as the players.”

Mitchell Marsh was dropped early in the tournament before becoming the player of the final. Picture: AFP