Australia's vice-captain, Aaron Finch is likely to bat in the middle-order for the remaining ODI matches against England as tourists strive to keep ODI series alive. Aaron Finch will remain in the middle order for Australia's next must-win battle on Tuesday. England will face Australia in the third ODI at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Aaron Finch feels Australian batsmen need to show more accountability and calibre in their batting skills. For keeping things balanced, Aaron Finch will have to bat in the middle order as Australia's left-hand batsman, Shaun Marsh struck a fighting century in the second ODI that came in a losing cause.
"At times I think we're playing some good cricket, at times we're making some mistakes that seem to be happening pretty regularly," said Finch.
"We keep talking about middle-order collapses and losing wickets in clumps and it keeps happening.
"I don't know whether we're working ourselves up into a frenzy about things like that but it's disappointing obviously."
The next game against England is a must-win match for Australia as far as their winning the series is concerned. Australia has only managed to win 2 games out of their last 15 ODI matches. They need to pull up their socks to produce something different in the third ODI at Trent Bridge.
Aaron Finch feels their spinners who have not clicked in this series against their Ashes rivals have to take wickets in the upcoming games if they want to win against England.
"It's about minimising a little bit of risk at times," he said. "In the past we've been ultra-aggressive against spin and we're probably still going with that tact a little bit at times rather than taking the game a little bit deeper.
"Whether that's through a lack of attention to detail or trying to up the ante too much and push the game forward when we just need to hold a little bit … only the individual knows what their role is in the side at the time, in that partnership, in that scenario.
"I think we've got to be a little bit more honest with ourselves and our teammates and probably just communicate a little bit better and be accountable to each other and just try and soak up a little bit more pressure.
"There have been some times where we've really let ourselves down with the bat."
Finch has played in the middle order after 90 ODI matches as the visitors have a new opening pair in the form of Travis Head and D Arcy Short.
"We've got a few guys who can bat at the top of the order. Over the last 12 or 18 months I've batted in the middle order in quite a lot of T20 cricket – the IPL, the recent T20 tri-series – and done it reasonably successfully as well," said Finch.
"So it's just about trying to find a balance in our side. What we have been doing hasn't been working over the last little while, but it's also a chance to try some new things.
"D'Arcy is hitting the ball nicely, Heady got a hundred against Middlesex and missed out in the first game but looked really good (in Cardiff).
"It's just about mixing and matching and seeing what's the right formula going forward.
"If you look down our batting order in the first two games, besides Shaun getting a big hundred, most guys have got starts.
"It’s about kicking on, being more ruthless, more disciplined through that middle part when we are getting out.
"It’s about taking more care. But we are still positive, we are still good players. The young guys are very skillful.
"There’s still a lot of inexperience, a lot to learn, and everyone is still learning." Aaron Finch concluded.
Australia's third ODI against England is on June 19, where it will be a do or die situation for the visitors. The game will begin on 9GEM starts at 10.30pm AEST.
(Inputs from Cricket Australia)
