Australian captain Aaron Finch has leaped to the defence of Pat Cummins amid suggestions from Mark Waugh that the paceman should be dropped from the T20 side.
Cummins, like Finch, endured a tough outing in the seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka, finishing with figures of 1-36 after he was held wicketless and went for 46 runs against New Zealand in the World Cup opener.
Waugh suggested that Cummins should make way for young all-rounder Cameron Green, but Finch wasn’t having any of it.
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”His numbers over the last 18 months have been outstanding in T20 cricket,” the Australian captain said.
“It blows my mind sometimes where people go with selection chat. He’s been unbelievable over all three formats for a long time. The calmness he brings to the bowling group and the experience, it’s invaluable.”
Finch has had more than his own fair share of critics after struggling for form of late, but said he doesn’t feel any added pressure when striding out to the wicket to bat.
”Everyone has got their opinion, that’s fine. I’ve got no issues with what people’s personal opinions are. I don’t read or listen to any of it,” a defiant Finch said in response to recent criticism from former Australian captain Allan Border.
“I don’t feel any more pressure than I ever have. The only pressure is the expectation you put on yourself, and I think that’s what comes with a decent player in a good side.
“You put pressure on yourself to perform because you want the team to win. The other day, I was slightly off, but that can happen.”
Finch and the Australians face the old enemy England in a must-win clash at the MCG on Friday night.
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