Australia may have lost the three-game T20 International series to India but captain Aaron Finch says they may have unearthed a short-form talent in Cameron Green.
Green, who hasnt been named in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, smashed 52 from 21 balls as an opener in Sunday’s decider which India won by six wickets with one ball remaining in Hyderabad.
The 23-year-old all-rounder also blasted 61 from 30 in the first T20I of the series, along with a game-winning 89no in an ODI against New Zealand earlier this month in Cairns.
Green’s rise comes at a time when Finch’s spot in the T20I is up for debate, with the out-of-form skipper having opted to retire from ODI cricket but playing on ahead of next month’s World Cup on home soil.
“He is a super young player; he has shown his class,” Finch said about Green. “He has not played a lot of T20. He has taken to it superbly.”
Green has played 14 Tests for Australia, along with 12 ODIs but the short format is largely foreign to him. He has barely played for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL.
Tim David is another find, helping Australia reach 186-7 in the third T20I with 54 from 27 balls.
Australia lost the series 2-1, but Finch was bullish about his side amid their preparation for their World Cup defence.
“It was a really good series,” he said. “To be able to play three games against a world-class side has been great for this side.”
Virat Kohli (63 from 48) and Suryakumar Yadav (69 from 36) were integral to India’s successful chase, along with Hardik Pandya (25no from 16) at the end.
“We thought it was a decent total, it got a bit dewy, and we knew we had to get wickets,” Finch said.
“You can’t rely on containing India. At times we were a bit sloppy in our execution.”
India captain Rohit Sharma said: “The biggest positives was different individuals stepping up with the ball and bat. When you are sitting back and watching all of that happening, you feel nice as a management.”
