One World Cup-bound Australian has been bowling to teenagers as part of unusual preparations, but now the captain has had his say on what it all means.
Australian T20 captain Aaron Finch has backed opening partner David Warner to fire and locked Steve Smith in for a crucial middle-order role at the World Cup despite their reduced status and limited output in the Indian Premier League.
Before flying out with the Australian-based members of the squad on Thursday, Finch conceded preparations for his team’s World Cup opener against South Africa on October 23 hadn’t been ideal.
Finch himself is recovering from knee surgery, while several key members of his squad, including fast bowler Pat Cummins, haven’t played any cricket in a significant amount of time.
First-choice spinner Adam Zampa even revealed he’d been bowling to teenagers in the nets near his Byron Bay home, having been unable to train with the NSW squad after opting not to return to the IPL.
Warner was dropped by his Sunrisers franchise after facing just six deliveries in two innings, while Smith has only batted twice for the Delhi Capitals after the pair put all their preparation eggs in the IPL basket.
But Finch, who has been speaking to Warner about conditions in the UAE, where the IPL is being played and the World Cup is being held, backed both to play a major role for Australia in the quest for a maiden T20 title.
“Absolutely. (Warner) is one of the best players to have ever played the game for Australia,” Finch said,
“While he would love to be playing, no doubt, I know he’s still training away and he’ll be good to go.”
Finch said Smith was lock for a middle-order role and not a “horses for courses” selection despite Mitch Marsh starring while batting at number three, Smith’s usual position, on the recent tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh.
“I think he (Smith) showed over a long period of time that no matter what course he’s on he’s still a pretty good horse, so he is someone who adapts to situations really quickly,” he said.
“His game speaks for itself. The 360 nature of his game is really suited, I think, to our middle order and yet he’s someone who will be in there, no doubt.”
Finch said two warm-up games before the tournament, against New Zealand and India, would be crucial to bring players “up to speed” after such a long period without playing.
The captain said he would also be ready for those matches after positive news from his surgeon on Tuesday.
But he also backed the experience of the bulk of the squad to ensure they would be ready off limited preparations.
“Training indoors or training just in the nets is no comparison to game intensity, the two warm-up games and the lead in are going to be crucial,” Finch said.
“They are going to be really important to get guys up to speed as quick as possible.
“But I have a lot of confidence in the experience of the group. We’ve got guys who have come off long lay-offs before, and it’s not all that much different when you are trying to get up to speed quickly.
“I think in a perfect world you’d love to be playing, and you’d love to have a really good lead-up into the tournament, playing in those conditions.
“I don’t think it’ll make too much difference to be honest, and the way that teams prepare and turn up ready to go is going to be the most important thing.”
AUSTRALIAN T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD:
Aaron Finch (c), Pat Cummins (vc), Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Travelling reserves: Dan Christian, Nathan Ellis, Daniel Sams.
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