Finch scores 50 ahead of first Test as opener debate fizzles out
Shane Warne's criticism of Victoria not using Aaron Finch as an opener before the first Test against India became a moot point in the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland at the Gabba.
Victoria ignored pleas from Warne, as well as Ricky Ponting, to pick Finch at opener in his only Shield clash before the first Test in Adelaide, sticking with Marcus Harris and Travis Dean.
Key points:
- Aaron Finch scored a half-century for Victoria batting at number three
- Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting argued Finch needed to open with Marcus Harris
- Peter Handscomb boosted his Test hopes with a half-century
But the move spectacularly backfired with Finch arriving at the crease in the match's first over after Dean was bowled for a five-ball duck.
Finch went on to make a well-crafted 50 from 87 balls, while sharing in a 116-run partnership for the third wicket alongside Peter Handscomb, who gave his chances of Test selection a boost with an innings of 81.
The performances of Finch and Handscomb contrasted with the failure of Harris, who could only manage 2 from eight deliveries less than a week after being named in Australia's first Test squad.
Rookie Harris is in the Test opener mix with Finch and Queensland captain Usman Khawaja, but missed a chance to impress.
Warne and Ponting had pushed for Finch to open for Victoria, despite the burly batsman not featuring in its top order in the last four years.
Warne used social media to describe Victoria's decision not to open with Finch as a "disgrace", suggesting it was a lack of "common sense" in what is his final hit-out before the first Test.
Ponting felt it was a missed opportunity not to use Finch as an opener.
"I think they should let him (Finch) open for one game and slide Travis Dean down," Ponting told Cricket Australia's website prior to the Shield match commencing.
"Just to give him red ball [practice] opening the batting before he goes into the Test match.
"If the coach asked Aaron Finch where he'd rather bat, I'm sure he'd say he'd want to open."
Finch had previously not faced a red ball in match conditions since October's Test series against Pakistan in UAE, having captained Australia through its one-day and Twenty20 campaigns against South Africa and a T20 series against India.
He hit nine fours against Queensland on day one of the Shield fixture, including a confident straight drive to the boundary with the first ball he faced.
Handscomb, vying for a Test middle-order return, struck 11 fours and a six in his knock of almost three hours.
Their defiant stand on a lively Gabba wicket ended when Finch was caught at gully by Khawaja off Michael Neser.
Handscomb had a handy ton in sight before he was brilliantly caught at point by Mitch Swepson off Mark Steketee.
Finch, Handscomb, Harris and Khawaja are among six members of Australia's 14-man Test squad playing at the Gabba.
The first of four Tests against India begins on December 6.
AAP/ABC
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
