New Delhi:
The Australia head coach, Justin Langer backed Aaron Finch to wade through the lean patch and regain form ahead of the ODI series against India, which is scheduled to start on March 2 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Finch didn't have the greatest of outings in the shortest format, having been able to score a total of just eight runs in two games.
Finch was sent back to the pavilion by Jasprit Bumrah on the first delivery in the first encounter. Aussie skipper didn't get going in the second game as well, and to make matters worse, the opener hasn't notched up a single fifty across both the shorter versions of the game over 19 innings.
"He's such a good player, such a good person, captain of the team, we know he'll come good," Langer said in Bengaluru on Thursday. "We just got to keep giving him plenty of care and support. We know he'll come good. There's no more destructive player in the world - we talk about 'Maxi', Marcus Stoinis, a number of our players who can be so destructive - but when he's going, he is as destructive as a player as there is in white-ball cricket. We know he'll come good and we'll be patient with him," he added.
Langer also praised Finch's composure as a captain, especially in the backdrop of the opener going through a barren run."Another important part of leadership is that he's really consistent. We haven't seen any real change in his personality or his attitude around the group, so that's a real credit to him. That's why he is the captain of the team.
"My experience with every captain, the most important thing is they're playing really good cricket. He's got to keep his attention on that. He's got lots of support around him. Like I say, he's such a good person, he's got to be Aaron Finch, be himself. He's doing that. He's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. We'll just keep encouraging him to be himself. His runs will come, keep encouraging him to be himself and I'm sure he'll come good soon," he noted.
Langer also noted that the banned of David Warner and Steven Smith are in line to return to the national fold before the World Cup. He added that he has been in constant touch with both the players. At present, both the players are recuperating from their respective elbow injuries, with Smith even hitting the nets.
"I've been in touch with them for the last nine months and as it gets closer to them coming back in the squad, I'm not sure it increases how much we speak to each other, it's been consistent. That will remain the same. I think Dave's probably a little more advanced (in his rehabilitation) but my understanding is they'll be ready to go in the not-too-distant future."
