West Indies vs Australia 2021: Aaron Finch Doubtful For The ODI Series Due To An Aggravated Knee Injury

Aaron Finch’s participation in the upcoming ODI series has come under the scanner after the opener aggravated his right knee injury issue during the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies.

The 34-year-old twisted his knee while fielding in the fifth T20I on Saturday and was forced to leave the field. He then appeared in visible discomfort while batting, especially after he sprinted to take a second run during his knock of 23-ball 34.

If Finch does end up missing the ODI series, then Australia might be forced to find a new captain for the three-match rubber.

Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade was named as designated vice-captain for the T2OI series but the Tasmanian isn’t sure whether the title would see him considered as Aaron Finch’s deputy.

Wade also admitted that he had come to the Caribbean expecting to just feature in the T20I series but he believes that Finch’s absence could open up a spot for him.

“It’s a bit of a moving thing, the vice-captaincy,” Matthew Wade told cricket.com.au. ‘’Going forward in the one-dayers I have no idea what will happen there. I am probably not expecting to play, especially if Finchy plays, but if he doesn’t there might be an opportunity for me to play,’’ said Matthew Wade.

“I came over here thinking I would play the T20s and I wouldn’t play the ODIs. I think some of the younger guys would get some opportunities to play them which is fair enough, I’ve been around a long time now. But if Finchy doesn’t come up there might be an opportunity to play, so we’ll wait and see.” he added.

‘I wouldn’t be putting a line through him as yet’- Matthew Wade on Aaron Finch’s availability for the ODI series

Pat Cummins is the designated vice-captain of the Australian team but the champion pacer is not a part of the touring party in the Caribbean.

Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey was the designated deputy to Aaron Finch in the last ODI series that Australia- vs India last December- after Cummins was rested in order to freshen up before the Test series that followed.

Then, there are other options in the form of Moises Henriques, who has vast experience of captaincy in domestic cricket.

Matthew Wade led Australia in a T20I against India last summer when Aaron Finch was ruled out due to injury but the Tasmanian stumper has not played an ODI since September 2017.

“I love to captain whenever I get an opportunity. I captained in the T20s (against India last summer), and we’ve got plenty of different leaders here. Moises is a really good leader, Adam Zampa is getting better and better, ‘Starcy’ and ‘Hoff’ (Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood) go about their thing,’’ said Matthew Wade.

“Captaining is pretty easy at this level with those experienced guys around so if I got the opportunity I’d jump at it’’ he added.

Wade, however, asserted, that it is too early to write off Aaron Finch and he may well recover in time and lead the Australians in the three-match ODI series.

“I think it’s been one of those things that has maybe hurt for a day but then the next day he can recover really quickly. I wouldn’t be putting a line through him as yet,” said Wade.

“It is an injury that has settled really quickly. He’s carried it a little bit through this T20 series, but it has always seemed to come right so fingers crossed that will happen for him again,” he added.

The ODI series between Australia and the West Indies will kickstart from July 21 in Barbados.

Also Read- Watch: Fabian Allen Takes A One-Handed Blinder To Get Rid Of Aaron Finch