Aaron Finch, limited-overs skipper feels Australian players will have a hard time justifying their participation in the second half of the postponed IPL 2021, given the hectic national schedule, as he was “surprised” to see some of his teammates withdraw from the country’s upcoming white-ball tours.
The country’s seven top cricketers including the likes of David Warner, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis, and Daniel Sams have pulled out from the upcoming West Indies series for varied reasons and also said that they won’t be visiting Bangladesh if that tour is confirmed.
Aaron Finch Is A Little Bit Surprised But Understandable At Australia’s Key Players Missing The Tours Of The West Indies And Bangladesh
While it had been a “long-term plan” for David Warner and Pat Cummins to miss the winter tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh (if confirmed), Aaron Finch said he understands his teammates’ decision.
“The other guys – I was a little bit surprised,” Aaron Finch was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on SEN Radio.
“I’ve chatted to them all – a little bit surprised but it’s also understandable … but I wish that they were there,” said Aaron Finch.
Asked about his teammates who requested not to be considered for the tours, Aaron Finch said: “I think they would find it hard to justify going back and playing that second half of the IPL. Just purely based on the workload coming up with a T20 World Cup and a huge home summer.
“It’s really tough. It’s a tough situation that everyone has been put in, but personally, I would find it hard to do that knowing how difficult it is and how challenging it is mentally, and on your family as well. That’s what I would think.”
Australia will take a depleted squad to the West Indies and Bangladesh after several big names, including David Warner, Pat Cummins, and Glenn Maxwell opted out of the upcoming white-ball tours.
Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, and Marcus Stoinis also requested not to be considered for the tour, with the rigours of international travel, quarantine, and bubble life over the past year behind their decisions.
Aaron Finch: Australia Will Have To Wait And See What The Team Looks Like When The T20I World Cup Is Around
Star batsman Steve Smith was also not included in the squad as he is yet to fully recover from an elbow injury that flared up during the IPL. Earlier this week, Australia chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns made it clear that he expects the country’s IPL players to forgo the high-profile T20 league starting mid-September if a tri-series involving West Indies and Afghanistan is scheduled at the same time.
“The guys who aren’t there have probably left the door slightly ajar. What that looks like when the T20 World Cup comes around, we’ll have to wait and see,” Finch said. “But if you can get on the international stage against a very good West Indies side and Bangladesh team (and perform well), it carries a lot of weight.”
The absence of the top players means veteran Dan Christian, Big Bash League stars Ben McDermott, Wes Agar, and Riley Meredith will get an opportunity to prove themselves at the international level.
Not all Australians who played in the IPL opted out, and Riley Meredith, Moises Henriques, Dan Christian and Jason Behrendorff have been included. Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye, who both played but escaped India before the competition was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic, are also on the list.