Slip up and you will get hurt in India, says Finch

Melbourne, February 18 

Australia captain Aaron Finch feels he doesn’t need a Big Bash League triumph to “pep” him up as playing an away series against a formidable Indian team is a big enough challenge. Finch will lead Australia in the upcoming limited-overs series in India, starting on February 24, where they would play two T20 Internationals and five ODIs to fine-tune their preparation for the World Cup.

Finch’s side Melbourne Renegades beat Melbourne Stars by 13 runs in the BBL final on Sunday. “I don’t think you need anything to put a pep in your step when you’re going on an Aussie tour, particularly to India,” Finch was quoted as saying by official Cricket Australia website cricket.com.au. “If you are slightly off the mark, you are going to get hurt. They (India) are the best ODI side in their own conditions, I think. So you’ve got to go there full of confidence and have a real clear gameplan,” said the 32-year-old opener.

Finch went through an eventful summer. He was appointed Australia’s ODI captain in a World Cup year, before making his long-awaited Test debut. But he has since been dropped from the Test squad after failing to fire, and has not been as destructive as usual in the shorter form of the game.

He made just 13 in the BBL final on Sunday with a bizarre dismissal, when Cameron White’s straight drive deflected off bowler Jackson Bird’s boot to hit the stumps, with Finch stranded outside his crease. Finch stormed off and smashed a plastic chair with his bat in the tunnel and escaped a fine for the incident, though he was reprimanded for level 1 breach of CA’s Code of Conduct for equipment abuse. “It just about sums up my summer,” he said. “It’s a tough one. You’re looking to score, but it happens. I felt like I was hitting the ball really nicely ... just not for long enough.” — PTI