Finch eyes MCG 'fairy tale' as end of an era looms

The "fairy tale" of defending a world title on home soil could also be the end of an era for Australian cricket, with skipper Aaron Finch yet to decide if he'll continue to play T20 internationals beyond this year's World Cup.

Following the tournament in Australia in October and November, Finch's eyes will turn to the 50-over World Cup in late 2023, with the next major T20 event to come in the middle of 2024, by which time Finch and his long-time opening partner, David Warner, will be 37.

Wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade has already said this year's World Cup will be his international swansong, while Warner has previously said he may retire from T20 internationals in order to prolong his career in Test and ODI cricket.

Speaking at an event in Melbourne on Friday to mark 100 days before the start of the T20 World Cup, Finch was non-committal about his future.

"Good question, good question," he said with a smile when asked if he would play T20s for Australia beyond the World Cup.

"It obviously shifts to a 50-over World Cup focus ... after the (T20) World Cup, so I don't think there's too many T20 games in the next 12 months (after the World Cup) anyway. So I don't know.

"I think just naturally when guys get to their mid-30s, it's going to be that way. Davey just keeps going; he could play for another 10 years, I think, with how fit he is and how much he loves the competition and continuing to challenge himself.

"Wadey has gone through a few phases (and) he's now become so important to the structure of our team, batting at seven there and being so dynamic.

"But it's an ageing side, isn't it? Especially in that batting group."

If the World Cup is to be a swansong for the likes of Finch, Warner and Wade, defending their title in front of a sold-out MCG in November would be the perfect finish.

"It might be a full stop on everything if it goes to plan like that!" Finch said. "Fairy tales can happen in sport.

"But it's going to be an incredibly tough competition. We saw how brutal the format is with South Africa winning four out of their five games at the last World Cup and still not qualifying on net run rate. It's just so brutal that you do need a bit of luck along the way. So let's see."

Aussie great Shane Watson, meanwhile, says Australia must find a way to get uncapped power hitter Tim David into their side for their World Cup defence, saying the 26-year-old has a "very, very rare" talent at the end of the innings.

Watson says Australia deserve to start favourites for their home World Cup, with the emergence of Mitchell Marsh at first drop and late hitting of Wade and Marcus Stoinis at last year's event solving the only weaknesses he believes the Aussies had in their T20 game.

Despite the impressive performances of Wade and Stoinis in the death overs, Watson said Australia simply must find room for David in their XI as well.

"If he's in the squad and he's made himself available for Australia ... then I'd fit him in really anywhere," he said.

"I hadn't really seen much of him at all up until the IPL and seeing what he did there is something that I hadn't seen for a long time. For a young guy coming in and just dominating and just hitting the ball like I've never really seen much in the past … you'd just find a way (to pick him).

"It's hard with Australia being the defending champions ... but with someone like that, the power that he has and the composure as well under pressure situations is something that's very, very rare."

Selector George Bailey and Finch have already flagged that David is on their radar ahead of the World Cup and could be in line for a debut in the coming months, with a T20 series in India and two at home – against West Indies and England – to come before the tournament begins.

"That time will come for Tim," Finch said on Friday.

"He's such a valuable asset; guys with that much power who can bowl a few overs and is good in the field, they will slot into a lot of T20 sides.

"There's going be opportunities there, no doubt, especially with the amount of cricket that's going to be played over the next three months until that World Cup starts."

Watson also backed Finch to hold his spot for the World Cup having recently said the skipper's form this could make him a "big liability" for the defending champions.

Image Id: 5397E2E978804FABB6529A64DD310E15 Image Caption: The 2022 T20 World Cup is just 100 days away // Getty

After a run of low scores, Finch returned to some semblance of form in Sri Lanka last month and Watson said on Friday the opener will be "an integral part" of Australia's Cup defence.

"He's a great short-format batsman; we've seen that throughout his career, and he's been batting very nicely in ... the last month or so," Watson said of his former teammate.

"It's great to be able to see him just continue to do what he does. To have the numbers and the record that he does, to average 35 at a strike rate of 145, there's not too many in the world who's able to do that.

"He's going to be an integral part with his leadership as well as his batting for Australia at this T20 World Cup."

Men's T20 World Cup 2022

First round

Group A: Sri Lanka, Namibia, UAE, a qualifier

Group B: West Indies, Scotland, Ireland, a qualifier

Super 12 stage

Group 1: Australia, Afghanistan, England, New Zealand, A1, B2

Group 2: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, B1, A2

Australia's T20 World Cup 2022 fixtures

Oct 22: v New Zealand, SCG, 6pm AEDT

Oct 25: v 1A, Optus Stadium, 10pm AEDT

Oct 28: v England, MCG, 7pm AEDT

Oct 31: v 2B, Gabba, 7pm AEDT

Nov 4: v Afghanistan, Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Semi-finals

Nov 9: SCG, 7pm AEDT

Nov 10: Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT

Final

Nov 13: MCG, 7pm AEDT