India vs Australia: Australia skipper Aaron Finch backs out-of-form Mitchell Starc

India vs Australia: Australia skipper Aaron Finch backs out-of-form Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc

Australia limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch has backed an under-firing Mitchell Starc to rebound in the upcoming matches. Finch admitted that the left-hander hasn’t been in his best shape from the last few games for the national side.

Starc has leaked 147 runs in 18 overs bowled by him, so far. After a spell of 1-65 in the series opener, the southpaw recorded his worst ODI bowling figures of 0-82 in the following encounter. However, the Australian team has registered an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match 50-over cricket series. 

“I think he’s going OK,” the limited-overs skipper told reporters on Tuesday.

“He hasn’t been at his very best and you have to understand that his standards are a lot higher than what you expect from most other people because of how dominant he’s been the last eight, nine years — especially in the white-ball formats,” Finch said.

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Starc’s poor run in the limited-overs matches didn’t start during the series against India. The 30-year old recorded three of his top six most expensive ODI spells in 2020.

“There will be some conversations today about what we can do slightly differently, whether it’s a tactical thing when we’re using him through the innings. But there’s definitely no panic stations from my point of view,” he added.

David Warner’s absence makes any side weaker: Finch

David Warner injury
David Warner picked a groin injury during the second ODI

The Aussie skipper also opened up on the injury of David Warner. He revealed that his absence could make any team a slightly weaker side. But backing his bench strength, Finch said that they have available reserves to fill the big boots of the kangaroo opener.

“He’s an all-time great in one-day, T20 cricket,” Finch said of Warner. “Any team that he’s not a part of is going to be slightly weaker. But we’ve got guys that can step up and really contribute in that role as well.”

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