ENG vs AUS 2018: We Don't Need to Copy England's 'Pretty Good Blueprint' - Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch must have felt good very good when he reached the three-digit mark in the fourth ODI against England.

It was his eleventh ODI ton and sixth against England, helping him equal a long-standing Australian record. Finch now shares the Australian record for most centuries against one opposition with Ricky Ponting (New Zealand, India) and Adam Gilchrist (Sri Lanka). It was also his fourth ton in past ten ODIs.

After being briefly tried out in the middle-order, he was promoted back to the top and made an immediate impact. The knock helped Australia post a competitive 310 for eight. However, the delight soon turned into despair, as England achieved the target with 32 balls and six wickets in hand.

Speaking after the loss, Finch expressed his disappointment over not being able to bat till the end. The 31-year old was out for exactly 100 in the 40th over. It was the time when Australia were just looking to go all out. With Finch gone, Australia managed only 85 runs in the last 65 balls.

In reply, England openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow came out all guns blazing. The duo added 174-run for the first wicket to set the tone for the chase. Nathan Lyon broke the stand when he sent back Roy for 101. Nine runs later, Bairstow departed too after scoring 79, but England’s middle-order did not fumble and scored the remaining runs with ease.

Jos Buttler starred with the bat towards the end, scoring an unbeaten 54 off 29 balls.

“I could have got us to a lot more to be fair, I left a heap out there,” Finch said. “We had a good partnership with myself and Shaun (Marsh, 101) and for me to get out just past 100 was disappointing when we could have really kicked on and put the foot down in that last 12 or 13 overs.

“I take full responsibility for us not getting 330-340. It would have been nice to really cash in and get 150-odd and get us to a really big total, make them continue to take risks with their middle order in the middle overs,” he added.

Australia are now on the verge of suffering a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of England for the first time. The latest series win has once again shown England’s immense potential in white-ball cricket.

On the other hand, this series has brutally exposed Australia’s weaknesses. But despite the recent struggle, Finch refuted the suggestion Australia should be imitating their style of play.

“I still believe we play our way,” he said. “The tone they’re setting in ODI cricket is obviously the benchmark.

“They’re full of confidence, and they have a lot of batting depth. They’ve got batting down to ‘Rashy’ (Adil Rashid) at 10, and he’s got ten first-class centuries.

“That Number six, seven, eight, nine, they can still get the job done if things don’t go well at the top.

“All in all they’ve got a pretty good blueprint.

“Do we need to copy that? No.

“I think we’ve still got to stick to our strengths, which is to find a way to stay in the contest for longer, keep hanging in there and hanging in there. Once we start to find the formula I think things will turn for us very quick,” he added.