Australia vs India: Aaron Finch likely to bat down the order at the SCG
Finch has so far scored only 97 runs in the series while opening the innings.
Australia’s backs are against the walls in the ongoing Test series against India. With the loss in Melbourne, they won’t be able to win the series but can certainly save it and defy India their maiden Test series win down under. However, for that to happen, they will have to improve their batting which has immensely struggled. For the same reason, Aaron Finch is likely to bat in the middle-order in the final Test in Sydney.
The first day of the New Year saw the hosts sweat it out in the nets at the Sydney Cricket ground (SCG) with seven of their 14-man squad taking the field. The skipper Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon, Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Peter Handscomb and Marnus Labuschagne were the ones who trained in the sunshine as Australia aim to level the series by winning the last match.
Labuschagne also likely to come in
According to the Cricket Australia’s official website, Aaron Finch who hasn’t done much at the top of the order in the series can be moved down to bat. However, with no other opener in the side, Usman Khawaja might open the innings and Finch can take the number five position where he bats for his state team in the Sheffield Shield. This might give them stability as the aggressive player can blunt the old ball to leave the bowlers confused.
“An unchanged line-up is still a possibility, with Finch shifting down to the middle order where he calls home at first-class level, and those ahead of him moving up one spot,” CA’s report read.
Moreover, with the SCG pitch expected to turn, Marnus Labuschagne can also make it to the playing XI as he also provides the fifth bowling option with his leg-spinners. Labuschange was impressive in the UAE where he picked a handful of wickets and if he plays then Mitchell Marsh will most probably have to make way for him.
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