Australian ODI captain Aaron Finch has said that he would prefer to have a left-handed batsman at the top of the order with him at the World Cup, which means it will be a toss-up between the explosive David Warner and Usman Khawaja.
While Finch and Warner were the openers in 2015 when Australia were crowned World champions in their own backyard, the skipper has forged a solid understanding and partnership with Khawaja in the last year, and that came to the fore recently against India and Pakistan where both of them scored heavily.
“There’s going to be plenty to think about over the next 6-8 weeks … to try and find our best combination and the best way to structure up our side,” Finch was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
“Davey’s record at the top is unbelievable and Uzzie’s been in great nick recently. Whichever way we go, there’s scope to mix and match that as we go through the tournament. We’ll work that out, there’s nothing set in stone right now.
“I think all three of us could (bat at No.3). I’ve probably got the least experience out of all three of us in that position in limited-overs cricket. It’s something we’ll juggle and tinker with. I think a left-right combination is probably the way we’ll go, it just depends on which left-hander (opens).”
When asked, Finch said he does not see Khawaja having a problem with moving down the order to number 3 and letting Warner open with him.
“I’d say yes, I’d imagine yes, but that’s still a long way out. He’s a class player and the form that he’s been in over the last six months in one-day cricket has been unbelievable,” he said about Khawaja.
“He’s done everything he can, he’s got big runs and big hundreds in important games and when a series has been on the line, so that’s a huge thing. And when he gets in, he’s so hard to stop as well.”
