Finch frustrated to lose Oz T20 captaincy

Cricket365
May 4, 2016

Australia T20 opener Aaron Finch says he was disappointed to learn that he'd lost the captaincy of that team earlier this year, as he'd been keen to lead them at the World Twenty20 in India.

Finch had been injured with a torn hamstring for a few months, and just as he was about to return he learned Steve Smith would be taking over as skipper. The Aussies went on to crash out of the tournament in the group stage.

Finch, currently plying his trade in the IPL with betting favourites Gujarat Lions, told cricket.com.au: "I got a quick phone call from (national selection chairman) Rod Marsh, I think he was in New Zealand at the time.

"It's not something I saw coming, to be honest. We'd had a good couple of months lead-up chatting about the side and the squad, the make-up of the team and how we were going to look to play in that time.

"I was very disappointed and I was looking forward to leading an Australian team into a world tournament.

"Disappointing and frustrated but at the same time I totally understand why they did it."

Finch then also had an up and down time of it regarding his place in the side, as selectors tried to fit him, David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Shane Watson into the top three.

Finch said he expected to play in the opening match of the World T20, and even had his boots on his feet, only to be told that he was not in the starting XI.

He explained: "I was absolutely expecting to play. I think I found out five minutes before (the XI was named).

"I was putting my boots on to go out and warm up because the day before we hadn't seen the wicket and I found out then.

"They let us know early it was going to be a late team decision and unfortunately it didn't go my way that time.

"But you move on and you just keep training and making sure you're in a good space when your time does come.

"What it all boils down to is they don't have to justify anything. They're paid to pick a team and they picked the team they thought that could win that game.

"'Watto' (Watson) was coming off a hundred in the last T20 game he played in Australia. So I can absolutely understand."

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