Finch wears blame for Test absence

Aaron Finch shattered records in Harare on Tuesday but is now the owner of an unwanted statistic.

No player has scored more international runs without playing a Test match than Finch, who has amassed 4891 runs in 132 matches for Australia. 

After scoring a bruising 172 from just 76 balls against Zimbabwe yesterday, Finch claimed the record off Ireland’s William Porterfield, who had scored 4763 runs before he won a maiden Test cap in Ireland's first-ever Test against Pakistan in May.

Despite a prolific limited-overs career for his country – which includes a World Cup title, 11 one-day international centuries and two in T20I cricket  – Test cricket has evaded him for the past 13 years. 

"I’ve got myself to blame for that," Finch said.

"When I was younger I had an opportunity to really push my case for a few years..

"I had probably 18 to 24 months of really lean four-day or any red-ball cricket to be honest. 

"I was playing good white-ball cricket for Australia and couldn’t get the runs on the board in red-ball cricket."

But despite turning 31, Finch still believes he has Test cricket in his future, having not given up on the dream of wearing a Baggy Green.

"I’ve started to build up my red-ball game again and I feel a lot more comfortable now," he said. 

"I’ve started to play my natural game, ultra-aggressive whether I’m playing in Australia or England."

Finch’s red-ball form has been impeccable since the winter of 2014, averaging almost 50 in both Australia and in the United Kingdom.

Pair that with his T20 form in 2018, where he has scored 398 runs and been dismissed just twice in six innings, and you could mount a strong case for the Victorian to feature in Australia’s Test side.

Finch remains optimistic about his chances, despite selectors opting for Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh and Peter Handscomb to occupy middle order positions in recent Test tours, and missing out on the Australia A tour of India next month.

"Test cricket will take care of itself if I keep scoring runs," Finch said.

"I do feel over the last few years I’ve adapted my game and I’m in a much better position."

Finch’s winter plans will see him head to Surrey to feature in their T20 and four-day tournament, with an eye towards Australia’s Ashes defence in the United Kingdom in 2019.

"The plan is to get over there after hopefully winning this series and really get over there and try and pile on as many runs as possible."

Qantas Tour of Zimbabwe

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Pakistan squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan.

Zimbabwe squad: Hamilton Masakadza (c), Cephas Zhuwao, Chamu Chibhabha, Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Malcolm Waller, PJ Moor, Tendai Chisoro, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Mpofu, Ryan Burl, Solomon Mire, Wellington Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Ryan Murray

July 1: Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 74 runs

July 2: Australia beat Pakistan by 9 wickets

July 3: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 100 runs

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final