World Cup 2019: Aaron Finch was concerned about his ODI spot for ICC event, feels Test career is over

Aaron Finch, the Australian captain for the upcoming defence of their World Cup title in the England and Wales, has admitted to being anxious about his place in the ODI squad for the mega ICC event, given his prolonged slump with the bat in 2019. While Steve Smith and David Warner returned to the team, Cricket Australia named Finch the captain and will open the innings.

Finch, who last month made two centuries and two scores in 90s against Pakistan in a five-match ODI series in the UAE, had a 21-innings run in limited-overs cricket, where he didn’t manage to hit a single fifty. He has now said that despite his late run-scoring feats, he felt that CA selectors might not pick him in the team, let alone being named the captain for the ICC World Cup 2019.

I was starting to think a bit negatively, says Finch

“(I was feeling) huge anxiety based on a World Cup coming up, being captain of the side and not having the output I wanted,” he said. “I was getting really frustrated that, again, I was preparing and doing everything I thought I could to succeed but it just wasn’t happening. I don’t know why. It was probably just my own mindset, I was starting to think a bit negatively,” Finch was quoted as saying by Melbourne radio station SEN.

He further mentioned, “In the back of your mind you think: ‘there’s a World Cup not far away, as a captain of the side I could be left out’. Then you start putting unnecessary pressure on yourself to perform. (Recent good form) just re-assured me that I still am a pretty good player. You don’t lose your skill overnight.”

Finch had led Australia to their first ever ODI series after 2009, despite being 2-0 down and then went on to whitewash Pakistan 5-0 in UAE. However, at home against India, Finch managed 26 runs in 3 matches, but in India, he made a 93 in the 3rd ODI in Ranchi and was later named Man of the Series against Pakistan.

Finch has however admitted that his Test career is over after he managed just 97 runs in six innings against India and was then dropped for the 4th Tests and the next two Tests against Sri Lanka.

“My chances to play Test cricket again have probably slipped away. I gave it everything I could, and I didn’t leave any stone unturned. The reality was, the Indian bowlers were better than me at the time. Looking back now, it’d be a lot easier to make that decision (to not go to every training session). It’s just unfortunate that I probably won’t get that chance again,” he signed off.

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