Australian T20I skipper Aaron Finch believes Pakistan is the favourite for the upcoming three-match T20I series in UAE, starting from Wednesday (October 24), but the Aussies will have no baggage from the recently concluded two-match Test series against Pakistan in UAE that Australia lost by 1-0.
Apart from the fourth innings of the first Test at Dubai, Australian batsmen mostly disappointed in the Test series. However, many of their Test series players are not in the T20I series as there are nine fresh players have been included for the T20I series.
Talking about the impact of Test series results in the T20I series, Finch told according to ESPNcricinfo, “There’s nine fresh guys that have come into our squad from the Test series, so there’ll be no baggage from them whatsoever. I think I’m the only batsman out of the top handful that was here for the Test series. So I think in that regard they’re just going to come in and play their natural game. They’re all really good strikers of the ball, but I don’t think batting outweighs bowling in any way, I think your defensive bowling is the most important thing, along with your batting.”
Also read: Twitterati Left In Splits After Watching The Biscuit Trophy
After suffering from fitness issues, Chris Lynn finally made his international cricket return during the one-off T20I match against the hosts UAE on this Monday (October 22), where he scored 20 runs. Finch seems to be confident on Lynn’s present fitness.
The Australian T20i skipper said, “[Lynn] played nicely [against UAE], being injured for quite a while it’s always a bit uncertain with Chris in the field, whether he’s diving and stuff like that, but from all reports he’s 100%, he says he’s feeling great at the moment, it’s great to have him back. We’ve also got Ben McDermott who made his debut yesterday and played really well towards the end of the innings. When you have new guys coming in it’s really exciting, particularly on their debut.”
Earlier in this July, Australia and Pakistan featured in the T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe that was won by Pakistan after beating Australia in the final by 6 wickets. As the no.1 T20I ranked side Pakistan is the favourite in the three-match T20I series against the no.3 T20I ranked side Australia, Finch feels Pakistan would be more under pressure.
Finch said, “Both sides are pretty familiar with each other coming off that tri-series in July and also a Test series. There’s a lot of work that goes in from backroom staff and players individually preparing for each game and each series and each opponent individually, but as a collective there was some good knowledge on both sides from that tri-series. Their spinners play a big part in their plan as well, so we’re going to have to play well against them to be a chance and to win this series.”
“They’re all world-class players, they’re No. 1 in the world for a reason, and no doubts they go in with the favourite tag. So I think there’ll be more pressure on them than there will be on us.”
Finch further added that it would be an exciting three-match T20I series as both sides are very attacking.
The 31-year-old said, “Teams who take wickets in the Powerplay tend to win games, and teams who when they get a team on the ropes really squeeze them I think goes a long way to winning the game. We’re going to have our game plans on how we approach it and how we plan out our game, so it’ll be an exciting three games. Both sides are very attacking, particularly in the Powerplay, both sides have plenty of power, so it’ll be a great series.”
