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 finally broken his silence on the form of underperforming captain Aaron Finch.

Finch added three more failures against Zimbabwe last week to a run which has seen him average just a tick over 11 in his last 11 ODI innings.

His position in the side has been called under question in a big way following the tricky series against Zimbabwe, which the home side managed to win comprehensively in the opening two games, before dropping the third.

Australia have now shifted to Cairns, where they will begin a three-match ODI series against New Zealand on Tuesday, and speaking to the media, McDonald said Finch must be positive in his batting.

“I think it’ll just be about clearing his mind, clearing his thoughts and going out there and looking to be positive,” McDonald said.

“When he’s positive, his feet move a lot better than potentially when he’s doubting. And that’s every batsman’s case when they feel as though they haven’t got the runs that they want – they search for a little bit more and sometimes that can take away from … just clearing those thoughts and responding to what’s coming down.

“… I think across his career it’s ebbed and flowed – his movement patterns sometimes early in his innings are compromised, whether it be through perceived pressure which he puts upon himself or what the bowler does and executes.

“We know batting is reactive and you react to the stimulus delivered by the bowler and if we can get his mind clear I think that there’s an opportunity there for him to have an impact on that New Zealand series.”

The captain is unlikely to be dropped during this series given the T20 World Cup is just around the corner, however, with 12 months until the ODI World Cup in India, Australia are fast running out of time to appoint a replacement captain if they decide Finch's form isn't enough to see him continue being selected for the white ball teams.

Australia's series against New Zealand is their last in the ODI format until after the T20 World Cup.