Australia vs Pakistan 2018: I Am Ready to Bat at No. 11 if Required - Aaron Finch

Australian limited-overs opening batsman Aaron Finch has finally been drafted into the 15-member Australia Test squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Explosive Finch stated he is happy to do whatever the team expects him to do. The 31-year-old is a star player for Australia in the shorter formats of the game. Finch is a big name in Twenty20 Leagues all over the world.

Despite being one of the most experienced Australian cricketers, he has not received his Baggy Green yet. However, he should make his debut in the UAE when Australia compete Pakistan in a two-match Test series next month.

Meanwhile, in the absence of David Warner and Cameron Bancroft the two opening batters, Australia might opt to send an experienced Aaron Finch at the top of the order.

Meanwhile, the No. 3 will also be an area of concern as Steven Smith is also serving a suspension.

“I’d bat No.11 if I had to,” he joked while speaking to reporters.

Meanwhile, Finch accepted the fact that if the call-up wouldn’t have come now, it was unlikely to come in the future. The chief selector Trevor Johns called him when he was driving from training one day.

“It was probably the time when if it didn’t happen now, it was probably less likely to happen down the track,” he said.

 

“It would mean a lot. You grow up in the backyard dreaming of playing Test cricket and getting a Baggy Green. It’s closer now than it ever has been before,” he added.

Finch assured the fact that if he gets a chance, he will not change his attacking display of batsmanship.

“Being aggressive has made me reasonably successful in international cricket in the two shorter formats. Depends on the order they see me fitting in if there’s a spot in the XI,” said Finch.

Aaron Finch will play his attacking brand of cricket even in Test cricket

“If it’s at the top, it’s about playing your natural game. If it’s in the middle, there will be times when you come in against a lot of spin, and the ball is reversing. Pakistan are a side that tends to bowl a lot more spin with the new ball, particularly in the second innings,” he remarked.

 

“It’s just about sticking to your natural game, playing to your strengths. When that happens, you give yourself a higher chance of success. Playing for 10 or 12 years, you build up a game plan you think works for you pretty well. It’s not about going away from that because it’s Test cricket or you’re playing in the subcontinent – it’s about just changing your mindset slightly,” Finch added.

Aaron Finch is a pretty experienced Australia player. Hence it shouldn’t be a hard task for him to get used to the conditions in UAE against Pakistan.

In conclusion, it is expected to be batting friendly conditions, and Finch should be hopeful of scoring some runs once he gets his Baggy Green.