Finch doesn’t have ODI captaincy ambitions

James Richardson
May 11, 2018

Australia opener and interim T20I skipper Aaron Finch says that he hasn’t given any thought to the ODI captaincy.

Finch was appointed skipper of the shortest format for the upcoming tri-series in Zimbabwe that also involves Pakistan but Test skipper Tim Paine was named as the leader of the fifty over group.

The stocky opener insists that the senior players in the squad are simply stepping up to fill a void left by unforeseen circumstances.

Finch told cricket.com.au: “I hadn’t really ever thought about it [the ODI captaincy].

“Nobody could foresee the position that Australian cricket is in now.

“It’s an interim position and I’m not exactly sure which way they’re going to look or what the long-term plan is going to be leading into the World Cup.

“It’s just being about the senior player, contributing as much as you can on and off the field to help the team grow, help young guys develop their game at international level. All senior plays play that role at some point.

“There’s not a real lot you can do if you’re not in the side.”

Finch has worked under new head coach Justin Langer before when he filled in for Darren Lehmann in the Caribbean in June 2016 when Australia beat out the West Indies and South Africa to a tri-series triumph and looks forward to working with him again.

He added: “He knows the game inside out, he’s had a lot of success as a coach.

“The times I’ve worked with him we’ve worked well together and really looking forward to it again.

“I don’t see things changing a hell of a lot. I think it will be very well structured.

“He said he’s pretty comfortable to sit back and observe and take it all in for the first tour and then start to implement some changes he wants to see.”

Tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Tour of England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord’s

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia