Finch finds support after place queried

Nathan Lyon has thrown his support behind embattled opener Aaron Finch as a host of former Test batsmen questioned the Victorian's suitability at the top of Australia's batting order.

Former Test openers Michael Slater, Mike Hussey and Simon Katich have all called for Finch to be removed from the opening spot for the Sydney Test after the right-hander completed a double of 8 and 3 in the Third Domain Test against India.

Katich also criticised selectors for picking Finch in the opening position in the first place given he bats lower in the order at domestic level for both Victoria and English county side Surrey.

And with just three Tests before Australia's Ashes defence begins at Edgbaston in August, Katich and Hussey have both suggested the Tests against England should loom large in the minds of selectors when they pick their teams for the rest of the Australian summer.

"I can't see how Aaron Finch is opening in the Ashes in Test cricket next year," Katich told SEN.

"He doesn't even open for Victoria or for Surrey. If Diva (Surrey's Australian coach Michael Di Venuto) can see that and Andrew McDonald (Vics coach) can see that for Victoria, why has it been that Australia can't see that?"

While Katich praised Queensland's Matthew Renshaw as a long-term opening option, he backed Usman Khawaja to move up from No.3 and partner Marcus Harris at the top in Sydney.

Such a move could see Finch bat further down the order, as he does domestically, a prospect Hussey is in favour of.

"I think he's more suited to the middle order than the top of the order," Hussey, who called for Renshaw to open at the SCG, told Macquarie Radio.

"I still think they will want him around. He's a good team man, he's got experience in one-day cricket and I think he can be dangerous with the bat against a tiring attack and he can play spin well."

Former Test batsman Mark Waugh agreed, telling Fox Sports: "I think if (Finch) is to play more Test match cricket, I think it's to be in the middle order. I don't think his technique is suited to opening on the fast, bouncy pitches. I'm not ruling a line through him, though."

Katich, however, said moving Finch down the order and the subsequent reshuffle would only create more uncertainty for a batting order that collectively has scored just one Test hundred since the end of last summer's Ashes.

"You can't just then move the whole middle order just to accommodate Aaron Finch," Katich said. "He's either a Test player or he's not.

"That's the problem … everyone else moves up a spot (if Finch is picked to bat at No.6). Then Shaun Marsh is batting at number three and Travis Head at four. I'm not sure Travis Head is ready to bat at number four in Test cricket because he's still only playing in his fifth Test match.

"Because they've done it the way they have, they've created an issue in terms of being able to balance the rest of the batting line-up."

Lyon, however, said Finch had the full support of the Australian dressing-room.

"I'm a massive fan of Finchy," Lyon said.

"He's a great guy and he's been working his backside off. He's been hitting a lot of balls in the nets. I think he's a world-class player and we've seen him perform at international level for many years now in all three formats.

"He's disappointed, as everyone is, but … he's got my full support. I'm confident that a big score is just around the corner for him."

The manner of Finch's dismissal on Saturday was particularly galling for Slater, who said the right-hander's attempted cut shot that went straight to second slip was a clear case of a cluttered mind.

"It's a hard one because I really want Finchy to do well, but there's been doubts technically against the new ball," Slater told 7 Cricket.

"Whatever was going on in his mind, maybe fighting (an urge to) play naturally and being aggressive and being defensive. And then you get caught halfway and you play a shot like that. So he's got more work to do.

"He doesn't have the mindset or technique to open for Australia in Test cricket."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Australia won by 146 runs

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Archie Schiller

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar