Birmingham: Aaron Finch has declared "history is made to be broken" when the Australians take aim at storming England and their Edgbaston fortress in a World Cup knockout final on Thursday.
Batsman Peter Handscomb has been drafted into the XI to replace the injured Usman Khawaja but Glenn Maxwell was facing the axe and shaping to be replaced by Matthew Wade after a disappointing tournament where he has failed to be a factor with either bat or ball.
Australian skipper Aaron Finch can't wait to take on England on Thursday night.Credit:AP
Finch, the captain, said Steve Smith was likely to bat at No. 3, although the pugnacious Wade could be used there, with coach Justin Langer saying Handscomb was likely to bat at either No. 4 or 5.
Australia was set to lodge official paperwork with the International Cricket Council for Wade's inclusion in the 15-man squad on Wednesday night.
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Langer refused to rubber-stamp Maxwell's position, nor that of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who passed a fitness test on a side strain at training, continuing a week of intrigue.
However, Finch later suggested Stoinis would be chosen, as overlooking him would leave the attack "quite thin". That means if Wade, now seen as specialist batsman, was rushed in to the side to help combat England's power hitters, it would have to come at the expense of Maxwell.
"We have got a lot of guys in there that can play a lot of roles. It's a real positive in the group, the way guys have chopped and changed and been flexible, particularly in that batting line-up when they have played but also the bowlers who have missed out due to match-ups and conditions," Finch said.
Maxwell has had a poor tour. While he has a brilliant strike rate of 163.14, the Victorian has only 155 runs at 22.14 and has been troubled by – and targeted with – the short ball.
He is also wicketless with his off-spinners but has done a good job, at times, of curbing runs.
Putting his hand up: Matthew Wade in the nets at Edgbaston.Credit:PA
Wade had been in superb touch as an opener with the Australia A squad, thumping two centuries in his past four innings, and would add batting power.
Stoinis hasn't had a major impact this tournament, with only 87 runs at 17.4 in six innings, and seven wickets at 33 with an economy rate of six runs per over. But he balances the attack, and would be particularly needed in Maxwell's absence.
"I think when we didn't have him in the side [against Pakistan and Sri Lanka] we were quite thin with the ball. That is why the all-rounder role is such an important one," Finch said.
"He has done a great job with the ball for us for quite a while now and with the bat he has made some crucial runs at times as well. He is a really important member of the squad and you can't overlook the point of team balance when you are looking at all of that stuff."
Handscomb played the last of his 21 one-day internationals, against Pakistan in Dubai in March, and many felt he should have been selected in the original touring party for this tournament. The Victorian has 628 runs at 34.88 with one century in his ODI career, that century coming against India in Mohali in March.
"His improvement has been early in his innings, in particular," Finch said.
"He's someone who rotates the strike really well and doesn't allow bowlers to bowl over after over at him, which is a real key ingredient of being a successful middle-order player. When he first started for Victoria, he might have been a slightly limited in terms of getting off strike. Read More – Source
Birmingham: Aaron Finch has declared "history is made to be broken" when the Australians take aim at storming England and their Edgbaston fortress in a World Cup knockout final on Thursday.
Batsman Peter Handscomb has been drafted into the XI to replace the injured Usman Khawaja but Glenn Maxwell was facing the axe and shaping to be replaced by Matthew Wade after a disappointing tournament where he has failed to be a factor with either bat or ball.
Australian skipper Aaron Finch can't wait to take on England on Thursday night.Credit:AP
Finch, the captain, said Steve Smith was likely to bat at No. 3, although the pugnacious Wade could be used there, with coach Justin Langer saying Handscomb was likely to bat at either No. 4 or 5.
Australia was set to lodge official paperwork with the International Cricket Council for Wade's inclusion in the 15-man squad on Wednesday night.
Advertisement
Langer refused to rubber-stamp Maxwell's position, nor that of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who passed a fitness test on a side strain at training, continuing a week of intrigue.
However, Finch later suggested Stoinis would be chosen, as overlooking him would leave the attack "quite thin". That means if Wade, now seen as specialist batsman, was rushed in to the side to help combat England's power hitters, it would have to come at the expense of Maxwell.
"We have got a lot of guys in there that can play a lot of roles. It's a real positive in the group, the way guys have chopped and changed and been flexible, particularly in that batting line-up when they have played but also the bowlers who have missed out due to match-ups and conditions," Finch said.
Maxwell has had a poor tour. While he has a brilliant strike rate of 163.14, the Victorian has only 155 runs at 22.14 and has been troubled by – and targeted with – the short ball.
He is also wicketless with his off-spinners but has done a good job, at times, of curbing runs.
Putting his hand up: Matthew Wade in the nets at Edgbaston.Credit:PA
Wade had been in superb touch as an opener with the Australia A squad, thumping two centuries in his past four innings, and would add batting power.
Stoinis hasn't had a major impact this tournament, with only 87 runs at 17.4 in six innings, and seven wickets at 33 with an economy rate of six runs per over. But he balances the attack, and would be particularly needed in Maxwell's absence.
"I think when we didn't have him in the side [against Pakistan and Sri Lanka] we were quite thin with the ball. That is why the all-rounder role is such an important one," Finch said.
"He has done a great job with the ball for us for quite a while now and with the bat he has made some crucial runs at times as well. He is a really important member of the squad and you can't overlook the point of team balance when you are looking at all of that stuff."
Handscomb played the last of his 21 one-day internationals, against Pakistan in Dubai in March, and many felt he should have been selected in the original touring party for this tournament. The Victorian has 628 runs at 34.88 with one century in his ODI career, that century coming against India in Mohali in March.
"His improvement has been early in his innings, in particular," Finch said.
"He's someone who rotates the strike really well and doesn't allow bowlers to bowl over after over at him, which is a real key ingredient of being a successful middle-order player. When he first started for Victoria, he might have been a slightly limited in terms of getting off strike. Read More – Source
