Internet Desk: Australia got a huge boost ahead of the 3rd One Day International in Indore. Opener Aaron Finch is likely to make a return in the playing XI for the Aussies in the must win tie on Sunday. The burly opener missed the first two ties due to injury to his calf muscle. Finch was seen training with his teammates at the Holkar stadium.
The Victorian was put through an intensive sprint session under the watch of experienced physio Alex Kountouris and after taking some catches at first slip, had a lengthy stint in the outfield nets at the 30,000-seat Holkar Stadium. Finch’s opening partner David Warner sounded a lot more confident to see his return.
According to Warner, “I think you know what he will bring. He is a very good player and he has played a lot of cricket for us in the past couple of years. He brings a lot of aggression at the top of the batting order. It was good to see him practising hard and hopefully he will be fit for the game tomorrow.”
Finch will be replacing Hilton Cartwright who looked all at sea against the Indian new ball bowlers.
“It is challenging for a young guy to take the bull by the horns. It is very difficult. When you play on the world stage against the best ODI teams, it can get overwhelming. He brings a lot of energy. He is a workaholic and brings in a lot of knowledge to the game,” said Warner defending the youngster.
Warner himself has looked totally off colour in the series so far. He has so far scored 26 runs in his two innings. Talking about his own form, Warner said, “If I had the answer, we would be winning. We have to work on that. There are no answers. It just happens in the game but there will be a turnaround.”
Warner has enough reasons to hope for a turnaround at Indore. The attacking Aussie openers will have their eyes lit up to see the short boundaries at the stadium.
“We have not played here. It is a challenge to beat India in their own backyard. The wicket is good and the boundaries are small. We have to get in whether it is batting or bowling.”
India’s spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzuvendra Chahal has wrecked havoc in the Australian batting during the middle overs. Both the wrist spinners have shared 10 wickets among themselves. Chinaman Kuldeep also achieved a hat-trick in the last match at Eden Gardens.
Talking about the Indian spinners, the Australian opener feel, “I find that the players can read them. One or two of the players probably can’t see the seam. Players react of the wicket. One needs to have a game plan against spin. One has to apply pressure against the spinners. If you get off to a good start and when the spiners come on, it is a different ball game. The tempo is different.”
He also added, “You grow up on wickets that are fast and bouncy. So when you come to the subcontinent and it is your first series, it is hard to adapt.”