Aaron Finch hits battling 50 for Australia to back up captain Tim Paine's faith

Sport360 staff 15:28 14/12/2018
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  • Aaron Finch battled back into form.

    Aaron Finch backed up his captain’s faith in him with a battling 50 on the first day of the second Test in Perth.

    After Australia lost the first Test to India in Adelaide by 31 runs, Finch and fast bowler Mitchell Starc were scrutinised for their below-par performances, with Finch scoring 0 and 11 and Starc picking up 5 for 103 in the match.

    However, captain Tim Paine gave both his backing, and both retained their spots in an unchanged XI for the second Test, where Australia finished Day 1 in 277/6.

    Finch put on a century stand with fellow opener Marcus Harris to give Australia a solid footing in the match, on a fiery Perth pitch that saw plenty of pace, lateral movement, and variable bounce – all of which should suit Starc.

    “Finchy’s been successful in international cricket,” said Paine ahead of the Test.

    “He played really well in the UAE and is like no other player – he just needs that one score to get that little bit more self-belief at Test level that we know he’s got in international T20 and one-day cricket.

    “Finchy is no different to any other player. You’re not going to succeed at international cricket unless you stick to your strengths.”

    Paine added that the criticism of Starc was “unfair”.

    He said: “I think the criticism he’s come under this week has been pretty unfair.

    “As I said after Adelaide, barring two or three overs where he got his radar a little bit wrong, I thought he bowled really well.

    “He’s best and his worst are getting closer together and I think we’re getting really close to his best again.

    “He swung the ball in Adelaide which he didn’t do in the UAE, I think he’ll swing it out there (at Perth Stadium), the conditions are going to suit him down to the ground.”

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