Ahead of the opening ODI of the five-match ODI series against the host side India, the Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch said that he didn’t feel David Warner or Steve Smith’s international comeback during the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan.
Both David Warner and Steven Smith faced the one-year suspensions from Cricket Australia (CA) due to their involvement in the ball-tampering incident during the Cape Town Test in last March. Their suspension periods will be finished soon. While they will be available for the selection, the national team will be busy to play against Pakistan in UAE.
After completion of the ongoing India tour, the Australian cricketers will travel in UAE. The will play the five-match ODI series against Pakistan from 22 to 31 March. David Warner and Steven Smith both will be available for the fourth and fifth ODIs (29 and 31 March) of that ODI series. However, their fitness issues may delay their international cricket return.
The present Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch also feels that both the senior cricketers will be not available during the ODI series against Pakistan.
Aaron Finch addressed to the media on Friday (1 March), “I don’t think David Warner or Steve Smith will play that game (on March 29). I am not a hundred percent sure on that but I don’t think they will play that last one or two games.”
During that media interaction, Aaron Finch was asked whether he sees himself as the stand-in-captain or not. In reply, he denied seeing himself as the stand-in-captain of the national team.
He said, “No, no, I am the captain, yeah.”
Aaron Finch about the Australian cricketers’ workload
Australian limited-overs captain also spoke about the workload management for the pacers. Aaron Finch feels that the Australian pace bowlers will get huge help after getting full April month off from cricket.
He further added that the in-form pacer Pat Cummins would freshly start in the upcoming World Cup. After their ODI series against Pakistan in UAE, Australia will play in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. They will begin their World Cup journey on 1 June against Afghanistan at Bristol.
Starting with Pat Cummins’ workload, Aaron Finch said, “He bowled a lot throughout the Australian summer, particularly at the back end of the India Test series. I think having no cricket in April will help guys like Pat to freshen up. Again someone like (Mitchell) Starc, who has played no cricket needs to bowl. The workload of our fast bowlers need to be balanced.
“Playing 10 ODIs in a month is quite an unchartered territory for our fast bowlers. There will be a mix and match managing the workload.”
The 26-year-old Ashton Turner is going to make his ODI debut in the away ODI series against the host India. The Australian captain is excited to see the smart player in the ODI series.
Aaron Finch said, “Ashton Turner is a guy who will be making his debut in ODI cricket. We have seen how destructive he can be in domestic cricket, so really excited to see him get a go in international cricket as he is such a smart player.”
On Saturday (2 March), India and Australia will play the first match of the five-match ODI series at Hyderabad.