Finch urges Australian players to step up if Smith, Warner don’t return in time

Visakhapatnam: Australian cricket team limited-overs captain Aaron Finch has urged his players to step up and challenge for places in the play eleven ahead of the World Cup.

Australia, who are in India to play two T20Is and five ODIs, are set to begin their final leg of away limited-overs games before ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup begins in May in England and Wales. The Aussies are the defending champions.

With both Steve Smith and David Warner nursing injuries, their return to international cricket immediately after the end of their Cricket Australia-imposed 12-month bans looks doubtful.

“We’re seeing Davey [Warner] have some elbow surgery recently, and Steve [Smith], so [important] for that to be in the back of your mind as well,” ICC’s official website quoted Finch as saying.

“If things don’t go 100% right with the rehab, or they have some complications with it and they’re not back in time, it’s a huge opportunity for guys to step up and almost cement their place going forward for the next little while”, he added on the eve of India versus Australia first T20I which is to be played here on Sunday.

Talking about Smith and Warner’s come back in the Australian squad, the limited-overs captain Finch indicated that Australia can be flexible in their batting order to make room for them.

“There’s also things you can juggle around in one-day cricket,” he said. (UNI)