In the opening T20I of a three-match series against India, Australia, captained by Aaron Finch, will start their T20 World Cup preparation on Tuesday at PCA Stadium in Mohali. Finch’s performance recently has been in doubt, and the right-handed hitter recently decided to stop playing in ODIs. Finch has scored 247 runs in the nine T20Is he has participated in so far in 2022, and he is hoping to help Australia get off to a strong start at the top. Before the three-game series against India, Finch had a virtual press conference in which he discussed his own play, Virat Kohli’s 71 international tonnes, the importance of Steve Smith, and the team’s World Cup preparations. Virat Kohli recently achieved his first international century and first T20I century in over three years.
“You’d be a very very brave man to write off Virat at any stage. He has shown for 15 years now, that he is one of the greatest players of all time. Particularly in T20 cricket, he is someone who has developed his game and grown his game over for such a long period. You are always trying to prepare to the best of your ability when you are coming up against Virat,” said Finch during a press conference. “He is super, 71 international hundreds, that is just ridiculous, isn’t it,” he added. While replying to a question about his own form, Finch said: “I think over a long period of time, you get pretty comfortable with criticism and stuff like that. I feel in T20 cricket, my form has been really good over a period of time now. I think if you separate the ODI form with T20I form, then it is completely different. They are different formats of the game, we are just really excited to be here to play these three games.”
While replying to another question on how important Steve Smith would be heading into the World Cup, Finch said: “Yeah, he is free to play however he feels like, most likely he will bat at No.3 in this series with Mitchell Marsh being out. We know the quality Steve has got, he is one of the best players who has ever played the game over all formats.” “We know the skill he has got and the game sense and the tactical mouse he has got, we are very confident that regardless of what role he has to play within the structure of the squad, he can do that,” he added.
Tim David, a powerful hitter, has also been called up to the team for the series against India. Finch would not confirm if the batter would play for Australia for the first time on Tuesday.”We haven’t finalized the XI yet, we are going to wait till we see the wicket today at the ground. But Tim has been super impressive in T20 cricket over a long period of time now. He is someone who we know has got the power, he has shown that all over the world where he has played. The fact that he has come into the squad with such a great attitude, he has been outstanding. He is a very good all-around package with his ability to bowl few overs. We are excited on what he brings to the squad,” said Finch.
