TOPSHOT - Australia's captain Aaron Finch looks on in the field during the 2019 Cricket World Cup second semi-final between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on July 11, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Australian coach Andrew McDonald has backed in his skipper Aaron Finch after criticism of his form thus far in the T20 World Cup.

After a poor outing against Sri Lanka earlier in the week, the Australians have had to fend off calls to replace Finch in the starting XI, with some pundits suggesting Steve Smith should take his place.

Despite the outside critisicm, and Finch not being able to prove himself after rain caused the abandonment of Australia's match against England on Friday, McDonald still has plenty of faith in his captain.

"(Finch) was selected for the team, he's our captain, so I think that says everything about the way that we internally view where he's at," McDonald told reporters.

"He didn't have his greatest night (against Sri Lanka) and he's been pretty forthright in his views on that, but it's T20 cricket, and that can happen.

"The beauty of a team is if one's not functioning to the full capacity you've potentially got some teammates around who are."

McDonald remained coy on Smith's potential inclusion in the side, but admitted there was a role for the 33-year-old.

"We've got 15 players in our squad, it's a challenge to pick 11," McDonald said.

"The surface and the opposition probably shift our thinking in what that looks like.

"He's definitely come up in conversations, there's a role there for him."

The Aussies will continue their World Cup defence with a game against Ireland, scheduled for Monday, October 31 at The Gabba.