You Can't Pick Aaron Finch For T20 World Cup If He Is Not Scoring Runs; It Would Be A Big Liability– Shane Watson

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson said Australia limited-overs captain Aaron Finch would be a big liability in the T20 World Cup squad.

Finch scored 86 runs in five innings at an average of 17.2 for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022.

The opening batter managed to score just one half-century (58 in 28 balls) against Rajasthan Royals, but string of low scores forced him on the bench for the remaining games with his last appearance being made against LSG on May 7.

Aaron Finch is batting nowhere near his best: Shane Watson

Watson, who is the assistant coach of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022, observed the Australian skipper’s technical changes and dip in runs.

“Unfortunately, right now, the way he’s batting and what I’ve seen during this IPL, he’s batting nowhere near his best,” Watson told the Grade Cricketer.

“Whatever is going on, the things he’s working on with his technique and mindset, it’s changed a lot from when he’s been at his best,” he added.

If Aaron Finch is not scoring runs, you can’t pick him for T20 World Cup: Shane Watson

In Australia’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign, Finch amassed 135 runs in seven innings at 19.2 with the best score of 44 against England. He was twice dismissed for duck in the mega event against South Africa and Pakistan (semi-final).

Finch could manage just 78 runs at 15.60 in the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in February. His only solace was the 55 against Pakistan in the one-off T20I just before joining KKR in India.

Watson is of the opinion that Finch won’t be fit to lead Australia in their title defence at home in October given his dismal batting performance over the year.

“I believe if he’s not scoring runs in the lead up to the T20 World Cup, and it’s along similar lines to what we saw here for KKR, you can’t pick him,” Watson said.

“At the moment he’s so far out of touch, no matter how good your captaincy skills are, if he continues to bat the way he is, it would be a big liability, especially as an opener,” he added.

Finch will lead Australia in their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in June, where they will play three T20Is and five ODI matches.

Also Read: IPL 2022: He Doesn’t Want To Play Left-Arm Seamers At All – Piyush Chawla Slams Aaron Finch